ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 12 Jan) Two Abu Sayyaf militants were killed and two soldiers wounded in fierce clashes Thursday in the southern Philippine island of Basilan, officials said.
The fighting first broke out Wednesday in Sumisip town after soldiers raided an Abu Sayyaf hideout in the village called Erely, and the clashes continued sporadically the next day.
The fighting first broke out Wednesday in Sumisip town after soldiers raided an Abu Sayyaf hideout in the village called Erely, and the clashes continued sporadically the next day.
Troops were pursuing the gunmen, said Brig. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, the island's military commander.
At least 2 members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group were killed, but there could be more enemy casualties, he said, quoting reports from villagers that they saw retreating gunmen dragging bodies.
"Two of my soldiers are slightly wounded, and two terrorists are also killed, and villagers reported they saw gunmen retreating with more dead bodies," Ferrer said.
He said villagers secretly informed the military about the presence of the hideout and gunmen in the area. "Villagers informed us about the presence of Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the area. Civilians are cooperating and helping us. They are providing us intelligence information about the Abu Sayyaf," he said.
Ferrer said security forces were pursuing about 3 dozen gunmen, mostly remnants of the Abu Sayyaf group under Khadaffy Janjalani, who fled the island after a massive military operation in 2002.
At least 2 members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group were killed, but there could be more enemy casualties, he said, quoting reports from villagers that they saw retreating gunmen dragging bodies.
"Two of my soldiers are slightly wounded, and two terrorists are also killed, and villagers reported they saw gunmen retreating with more dead bodies," Ferrer said.
He said villagers secretly informed the military about the presence of the hideout and gunmen in the area. "Villagers informed us about the presence of Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the area. Civilians are cooperating and helping us. They are providing us intelligence information about the Abu Sayyaf," he said.
Ferrer said security forces were pursuing about 3 dozen gunmen, mostly remnants of the Abu Sayyaf group under Khadaffy Janjalani, who fled the island after a massive military operation in 2002.
He said new Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon ordered an intensified campaign against the Abu Sayyaf, blamed for the spate of kidnappings and terrorism in the southern Philippines.
Washington listed the Abu Sayyaf group as a foreign terrorist organization and offered as much as $5 million bounty for its top leaders, including Janjalani, believed to be the al-Qaeda contact in the Philippines.
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