A devastating, multi-layered militant assault rocked Pakistan’s northwestern Bajaur district on Monday evening, as missiles, rockets and a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) were unleashed on a security forces post, killing 11 security personnel and a child, officials confirmed.

The banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) later claimed responsibility, describing the strike as a complex operation involving its newly introduced “Al-Farooq” missiles, followed by a suicide vehicle bombing and ground assault.

A Multi-Pronged Strike

The attack began around 7:30 p.m. when militants launched a coordinated barrage targeting security installations in the Malangi and Mena areas.

According to early field reports, the initial wave included rockets and surface-to-surface missiles before a VBIED detonated near the Malangi post, flattening sections of the compound and trapping personnel under debris.

Early information indicated that 13 soldiers and one police officer were stationed at the Malangi post at the time of the attack. By later, recovery operations confirmed that 11 security personnel, including one police officer,  had been killed. Two injured soldiers were evacuated to military medical facilities and were reported to be in stable condition.

Rescue efforts were hampered by intermittent gunfire and fears that militants had planted additional explosives along access routes. Due to this, heavy machinery was deployed to clear rubble as rescuers searched for survivors.

Civilian Toll and Targeted Rescue

The assault spilled into nearby civilian areas. Rocket fire struck residential zones, killing one child and injuring seven civilians, including women and children.

Two civilian vehicles near the post were also targeted with rocket-propelled grenades, one was hit directly while two rockets landed nearby.

In a chilling development, militants reportedly fired at an ambulance transporting casualties. Despite the threat, the vehicle managed to reach the hospital safely. However, two were injured in the assault.

Residents joined Rescue 1122 teams in combing through the wreckage, even as sporadic bursts of gunfire echoed through the area, further complicating recovery efforts.

Expanding the Battlefield

During and after the main assault, militants reportedly launched additional rockets toward the Mena headquarters and dropped an aerial bomb that failed to detonate. Surveillance later spotted suspected militants regrouping near a marble factory in the Umaray area. Security officials also warned that improvised explosive devices (IEDs) may have been planted along approach roads.

Aerial surveillance assets were deployed to scan the region as security forces prepared follow-up counterterrorism operations.

Separately, authorities confirmed  to The Khorasan Diary that multiple missiles were fired late Monday into the jurisdiction of Loe Mamond police station. One struck the home of Aitbar Zargar, while others landed in Mego, Barah Zagai, Shahi Tangai and Shakro. One missile fell near the 55 Baloch Mena Headquarters. No casualties were reported in those incidents.

Emergence of “Al-Farooq” Missiles

The Bajaur assault marks the first operational use of the TTP’s so-called “Al-Farooq” missiles in a high-casualty attack. The group claims the missile system was developed in the second half of 2025 by its “local engineers” and primarily deployed in Bannu district.

Launched via an AF-70 surface-to-surface mechanism, the missile was first claimed to have been used on January 1, 2026, in Bannu, though no fatalities were reported in that strike.

Previously, on October 23, 2025, the TTP released footage in its “Al-Khandaq” video series showing a locally assembled missile targeting a checkpoint in Bara, Khyber district. The three-minute video depicted militants launching a projectile fashioned from a modified gas cylinder mounted on a stand, a stark illustration of the group’s evolving technical improvisation.

A Tactical Shift

The integration of improvised missile systems with quadcopter drones represents a significant tactical shift. The conflict, once largely horizontal and ground-based, is increasingly taking on a vertical dimension, complicating defensive calculations for security forces.

The ability to strike from a distance using locally engineered projectiles, combined with suicide bombings and coordinated ground assaults, signals an adaptation in militant warfare strategy that could reshape the security landscape in Pakistan’s tribal districts.

Senior military officials arrived in Bajaur on Monday for briefings and funeral prayers. Authorities confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that clearance operations are underway to track down those responsible.

As recovery efforts conclude, Bajaur faces the grim aftermath of one of the most sophisticated militant assaults in recent months, a reminder that the insurgency, far from dormant, continues to evolve.