Abu commander wounded in Lanao del Sur assault

MANILA, Philippines - Government troops have launched air strikes and ground assaults that reportedly wounded one of Southeast Asia’s most-wanted militant suspects who is trying to establish a new base for an alliance backing the Islamic State group, officials said yesterday.

Intelligence reports showed the assaults killed at least four militants, possibly including a Malaysian, and reportedly wounded the main target, Isnilon Hapilon, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.

He said Hapilon apparently managed to flee from a camp in the mountainous hinterlands of Butig town in Lanao del Sur.

“Army troops are still in hot pursuit,” Lorenzana said.

Air strikes targeted Hapilon’s group on Wednesday and Thursday. Hundreds of troops, backed by artillery fire, then began pursuing him and other militants from the so-called Maute group in Butig, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Ano said.

Hapilon, who is on the US Department of Justice list of most-wanted terrorists worldwide with a reward of up to $5 million for his capture, moved to Butig from his stronghold in southern Basilan a month ago to look for a base for his new militant alliance, Año told the AP.

Hapilon, an Arabic-speaking Islamic preacher known for his expertise on commando assaults, has been indicted in the District of Columbia for alleged involvement in attacks on Americans and other foreigners in Mindanao.

He organized an alliance called Dawlatul Islam Wilayatul Mashriq, which is now believed to include at least 10 small militant groups including some Abu Sayyaf factions, the Maute and two other groups established by Malaysian and Indonesian militants. They all use black IS-style flags, according to counterterrorism officials and documents.