Philippine military assaults kill some Abu Sayyaf extremists

The Philippines military says 40 Abu Sayyaf militants have been killed and 25 wounded since army troops last week launched an offensive in the southern Philippines islands of Basilan and Jolo, two strongholds of the Daesh-affiliated group.

Tan said the army soldiers were on patrol as a major component of the intensified campaign to rescue the remaining hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf including a Norwegian businessmen as well as the skipper of an Indonesian tugboat and six of his men the militants had abducted while sailing in the Sulu Sea.

Also read: Who are the Abu Sayyaf?

Brig. Gen. Retituto Padilla Jr., AFP spokesman, said Visaya conducted assessment and examination of the ongoing operation against the jihadists, lawless elements and other terrorist groups in southern Mindanao to know if there is a need to adjust operational requirements.

“We are appealing to the government to help us with food for the civilians”, he stressed.

The ASG operates mainly in Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi Provinces in the Sulu Archipelago and has a presence on Mindanao.

Military intelligence reports later determined that nine Abu Sayyaf members were killed and 13 others wounded, he added.

Hataman said the suspect claimed to be from Zamboanga Sibugay province, located outside ARMM, confirming that militants in Basilan were being reinforced.

A $5 million bounty has been placed on him by the United States government for the kidnapping in 2001 of American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham, and fellow American Guillermo Sobero. The fighting continued till late yesterday, with more troops being rushed in, backed by military aircraft and artillery, regional military spokesman Filemon Tan told reporters.

Visaya said the focus military operation against the Abu Sayyaf bandits has no time frame.

Earlier this year, the group beheaded two Canadian hostages after ransoms failed to be paid.

Abu Sayyaf, a group whose name translates as “Bearer of the Sword”, has dogged successive Philippine governments, entrenching its network with vast sums of ransom money in what has become one of Asia’s most lucrative kidnapping rackets.