Islamabad, Aug 13 (DPA) Pakistani security forces pounded militant hideouts in the restive tribal region bordering Afghanistan Thursday, killing at least 10 militants, officials said.

Army helicopter gunships from struck several positions held by Islamist militants in the Kurram and Orakzai districts, which are relatively peaceful compared to the remaining five tribal areas.

'Several houses used by the militants were destroyed in the aerial raids which killed at least 10 miscreants and wounded a dozen more,' an intelligence official said on condition of anonymity.

Government administrators in the semi-autonomous region confirmed the assaults, but said details about the casualties and damage were not immediately available.

The intelligence official said some of the targets were linked to Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who was believed killed in last week's CIA missile strike in the South Waziristan region, a haven for Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters.