ISLAMABAD, March 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people were killed in a military operation in northwestern Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday night, a security source said.

The security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity on Saturday that Pakistani security forces launched an intelligence-based operation in the Babuzai area of the Mardan district in the province.

The operation was launched against the terrorists' hideout at three different locations in the Katlang mountain range of the area.

The operation led to an intense exchange of fire, resulting in at least 10 casualties, said the source, adding that the death toll could rise because of the large range of the operation.

The identities of the killed are not known yet as there is no official word on the operation yet. ■