**Pakistani fighter jets have targeted suspected Taliban hideouts in the Orakzai tribal agency, south-west of Peshawar, killing nine militants.**Officials say the hideouts in Ferozkhel area were being used by militants led by Taliban commander Hakimullah Masud.
There were unconfirmed reports earlier this year that Mehsud had died in a drone strike.
Last year, Pakistani troops had launched a major offensive against the Taliban in South Waziristan.
The army believes many insurgents have fled from there to areas such as Orakzai.
A number of air strikes have targeted militant positions in Orakzai in recent months.
The hideouts destroyed in Sunday’s attack were being used by foreign fighters but it is not clear whether they had been killed, officials say.
Reports say thousands of civilians have left their homes in Orakzai.