SULU – Three Marines and an Abu Sayyaf militant were killed in fierce clashes Friday in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, security officials said.
Officials said 3 soldiers were also wounded in the fighting that broke out in Timpook village in Patikul town where security forces launched an assault on an Abu Sayyaf hideout.
Three Marine companies – 62nd, 61st, and 64th – engaged the pro-ISIS militants under Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders Alnijar Ekit and Aldi Alun in running gun battle that also left a still undetermined number of enemies wounded.
“Based on human intelligence, initial results of the ongoing firefight include a number of severely wounded bandits that probably could have died due to loss of blood. And while pursuing the Abu Sayyaf, troops recovered one dead body of an enemy killed with his M14 rifle and seven magazines,” said Brig. Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo, commander of the Joint Task Force-Sulu.
“On the government side, three marines were killed and three others incurred minor injuries,” he added.
Abu Sayyaf leaders have pledged allegiance with the ISIS and are fighting along with other extremist groups actively operating in the troubled region for the establishment of a caliphate (Mindanao Examiner)
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