Islamabad: Around 30 suspected al-Qaeda militants, including foreigners, were killed when the Pakistani military launched an aerial attack on their hideouts in the South Waziristan tribal region near the Afghan border.

The raid took place in Zamzula area of the South Waziristan after the military received information about the training activities of foreign militants and their local supporters, Pakistan Army Spokesperson Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan said.

"The operation was launched early this morning when the foreign militants and their local facilitators were engaged in training," Sultan, Director General of the Army's Inter-Services Public Relations told sources.

He said that aviation helicopters were used in the operation, adding that 25 to 30 militants were present in the area when the attack was launched.

Three of five compounds in the area were destroyed and several militants killed and injured. "I can't give you the exact number of casualties but most of them were believed killed," he said.

There was no independent confirmation of the military claim.

"Their activities were being monitored for some time and the operation was conducted after confirmed reports about their activities were received," the spokesman added.