ISLAMABAD, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Five terrorists were killed in an operation by security forces in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the country's military said in a statement.

The incident happened in Dera Ismail Khan District of the province on Friday, where the security forces conducted the operation on the basis of credible intelligence, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing, stated.

The troops "effectively engaged" the terrorists' position during the operation, resulting in the elimination of the terrorists, including a key commander, the statement added.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists, "who remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces as well as target killing of innocent civilians," the ISPR said,

A subsequent sanitization effort is underway to ensure the area is cleared of any remaining threats. ■