At least 16 Taliban and two civilians were killed when army helicopter gunships attacked Taliban hideouts in Bajaur Agency, officials said on Thursday. "Helicopter gunships pounded positions of militants in the Damadola, Shinkot areas from morning until evening, killing 16 Taliban and wounding 20 others, most of them civilians," a security official told AFP. Two civilians were also killed in the shelling, he said. Meanwhile, an Utmankhel tribe jirga decided to take action against the Taliban and their backers in the area. Thousands of Salarzai tribesmen announced to launch an operation against the Taliban on the fourth day after Eid. The Salarzai tribesmen torched the houses of 18 people accused of helping or sheltering the Taliban. Around 234 families left the agency in the wake of the military operation against the Taliban.