Sixteen security personnel lost their lives in an attack by Islamist militants in northwest Pakistan early Saturday, according to a senior police official from the South Waziristan region. This incident marks a significant escalation in assaults on security forces by Islamist fighters. Additionally, eight personnel sustained injuries during the attack on a security forces post, which occurred at 2 a.m. local time , as reported by police deputy superintendent Hidayat Ullah to Reuters.

A search operation is currently underway in the vicinity, with the attackers reportedly employing both light and heavy weaponry. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also referred to as the Pakistan Taliban, has claimed responsibility for the assault, asserting that the number of security personnel killed is higher than reported. The group stated via a WhatsApp channel that “at least 35 security personnel were killed and 15 injured” in the incident, without disclosing any casualties among its own fighters.

In recent months, the TTP has intensified its attacks, primarily targeting security forces. This group, which serves as an umbrella organization for various Sunni Islamist militant factions, has been engaged in efforts to overthrow the government and establish a strict Islamic governance system. While it operates independently from the Afghan Taliban, it expresses allegiance to the Islamist group currently in power in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of U.S.-led international forces in 2021.