Airstrikes Kill at Least 27 Suspected Militants in Pakistan

<p>The air offensive comes after peace negotiations with Taliban insurgents broke down last week.</p>

Image: Pakistani tribal families crossing a military check post as they flee after air strikes on Taliban hideouts

Pakistani tribal families crossing a military check post as they flee after air strikes on Taliban hideouts, at the exit point of Saidgi village, in the tribal district of North Waziristan on February 24, 2014. Pakistani fighter jets on February 25 bombarded Taliban hideouts in the troubled northwest killing at least 30 in the fourth airstrikes since peace talks stalled, in what analysts say is a surgical operation to reassert the military's dominance. The early morning attacks on hideouts in the North and South Waziristan tribal districts were the latest in a series of airstrikes by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) since February 20 that have killed more than 100 alleged militants. AFP - Getty Images

Feb. 25, 2014, 11:41 AM UTC

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Jet fighters and helicopter gunships pounded alleged militant hideouts in volatile tribal areas near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan on Tuesday, killing at least 27 people.

The airstrikes took place in the Shawal valley, which straddles North and South Waziristan.

A senior military official told NBC News that the raids targeting the Pakistani Taliban would "continue two more weeks."

The air offensive comes after peace negotiations with Taliban insurgents broke down last week.

Reuters reported that the strikes had set off a wave of refugees.

At least 38 suspected insurgents were killed in strikes on Sunday. Nine others were killed in gunship raids on Saturday.

Reuters contributed to this report.