In a devastating overnight airstrike, at least 30 civilians, including women and children, were killed when Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jets bombed Matre Dara village in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The strike occurred around 2:00 am, with eight LS-6 precision-guided bombs dropped by JF-17 Thunder jets, reportedly supplied by China. Eyewitnesses described scenes of carnage, with bodies strewn across rubble and survivors digging through collapsed homes with bare hands.
“Entire families have been wiped out. Most of the victims are women and children who had no chance of escaping,” said a local source.
https://t.co/4Mf3FEqgKV???? Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: At 2 AM, Pakistani Air Force JF-17s BOMBED Matre Dara village in Tirah Valley.
— Geo Frontline (@geofrontlinetv) September 22, 2025
30 civilians, including women and children, were killed in this brutal airstrike.#Pakistan #TirahValley #Khyber
The Pakistan Army has denied involvement, claiming the blast was caused by a terrorist munitions accident involving explosives hidden by Khawarij militants. However, intelligence officials and local leaders dispute this, citing confirmed use of air force jets and lack of militant presence in the area.
Tribal leaders from the Akakhel community held a jirga, deciding to bury women victims while placing the bodies of men and children outside the Corps Commander’s House in protest. A sit-in demonstration has begun at Khyber Chowk, demanding accountability.
Rights groups including Amnesty International have previously criticized Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations in the region for an “alarming disregard for civilian life”.