10 Abu Sayyaf men killed, 6 wounded as Philippines intensifies operations

Ten Abu Sayyaf members were killed and six wounded in a two-hour heavy firefight between government military and Abu Sayyaf militants on the weekend in southern Philippines, a regional military spokesperson said Tuesday.

Troops of Philippine military engaged about 150 Abu Sayyaf members at around 10 a.m. Saturday local time in a remote village of Patikul, Sulu province, said Major Filemon Tan, Western Mindanao Command spokesperson.

Three government soldiers were also killed and 21 wounded in the fight.

Fire support and close air support were provided to the engaged troops. Adjacent units also conducted blocking and pursuit operations as casualties were immediately brought to nearby hospital, Tan added.

The Abu Sayyaf militants have carried a spate of attacks and robberies on southern Philippines and Sulu sea, including kidnap for ransom, bombings, extortions, raids of villages in the impoverished provinces of Basilan and Sulu since the early 1990s.

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the military to hunt down the militants, which are believed to have 350 active members now. The Philippine leader said he does not plan to forge a peace deal with the group.

source: Xinhua