Fifteen militants have been killed and seven of their hideouts destroyed in fresh air attacks in Pakistan’s lawless tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

Fifteen militants have been killed and seven of their hideouts destroyed in fresh air attacks in Pakistan's lawless tribal region bordering Afghanistan, the military said.

The air strikes were carried out Sunday in the Shawal district of North Waziristan tribal district, where the army began a major offensive in June last year against Taliban and Al-Qaeda bases.

"15 terrorists were killed and 7 of their hideouts destroyed in Shawal today (Sunday) through aerial strikes," said a brief statement issued Sunday night.

The death toll could not be independently verified as the area is remote and off-limits to journalists.

Pakistan has been battling a homegrown insurgency since 2004, following the US-led invasion of neighboring Afghanistan in 2001 and the subsequent spillover of militants across the border.

Officials say more than 3,500 militants have been killed since the launch of the latest offensive last year.