A police checkpoint in the Hangu district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province came under a deadly armed attack, resulting in the deaths of nine police officers.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing reports from the Dawn newspaper, the assault also left 28 individuals injured.
Authorities reported that the checkpoint was targeted by militants identified as members of the "Fitna al-Khawarij" group. Following the initial attack, additional security forces were dispatched to the scene; however, they were met with an ambush. In the ensuing firefight, security forces neutralized 15 militants, with several others sustaining injuries.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province bordering Afghanistan, has frequently been the site of security challenges and militant activity in recent years. The region remains a focal point for counter-terrorism operations by Pakistani security forces, who continue to face persistent threats from various insurgent groups operating along the border areas.