ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistani security forces killed 10 suspected militants and wounded 25 others Sunday in new clashes near the Afghan border, a government official said.

More than 100 people, most of them militants, have been reported killed in the fighting in the Bajur tribal region in the last five days. The region is a suspected hide-out of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, and has been the focus of a major Pakistani military operation as well as ongoing U.S. concern.

Security forces used helicopter gunships, fighter jets and heavy artillery to attack suspected militant positions Sunday in the Loi Sam, Rashakai, Tang Khata and Gollokass areas of Bajur, said Iqbal Khattak, a senior government official.

"In the fresh operation that started this morning security forces killed 10 more militants, he said. "This figure can go higher as the fighting is going on."

The government said late last month that it would cease military operations in Bajur for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but reserved the right to retaliate against insurgent activities. It was unclear Sunday if the offensive would continue through the rest of Ramadan.

Hundreds of militants were reported killed in Bajur in August in the military offensive.

The latest clashes come amid tension between the U.S. and Pakistan over the Muslim nation’s role and sovereignty in the U.S.-led war on terror.