SULU – Dozens of soldiers were wounded in fierce clashes Thursday with Abu Sayyaf fighters, whose group is tied to the Islamic State, in the southern Philippine province of Sulu.
The battle erupted in Patikul town, a known stronghold of the militant group fighting for the establishment of a caliphate in the restive region. More than three dozen soldiers were reported injured in the fighting.
The military claimed one militant was killed, but troops did not find the body. The fighting occurred two days after members of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion led by Major John Reysanti Aling and the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Jomalesa clashed with militants in Patikul’s Tugas and Latih villages.
The latest clash broke out a day after the military’s Western Mindanao Command said 2 Abu Sayyaf militants had been captured by the military in neighboring province of Basilan.
The duo had been identified as Vilyamin and Dahocoh Garamun. Two rifles were also seized by soldiers from the militants during an operation in the village of Camamburingan in Ungkaya Pukan town. (Mindanao Examiner)
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