MANILA, Philippines - More than 100 Filipino troops attacked a mountainous stronghold of two al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf commanders, including one on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)’s list of most-wanted terrorists, sparking clashes Monday that killed at least eight militants in Mindanao.
The offensive targeted Abu Sayyaf commanders Isnilon Hapilon and Puruji Indama in the outskirts of Tipo Tipo town in Basilan, but it was not clear if the two were hit or managed to escape during the main assault after dawn and two clashes that erupted afterward, army brigade commander Col. Carlito Galvez said.
At least three soldiers were wounded in the clashes with about 30 Abu Sayyaf gunmen, the military said.
Washington has offered a $5 million reward for the capture or killing of Hapilon, who has been accused of involvement in deadly bomb attacks, kidnappings and beheadings, including of Americans in the past, landing him on the list of the FBI’s most-wanted terrorists.
Indama has been wanted by Philippine authorities for alleged involvement in deadly bombings and kidnappings of several people, including a former Australian soldier who was freed last month after 15 months of jungle captivity after ransom was paid.
Philippine Army troops recovered two bodies out of eight terrorists reported killed in the fighting.
Galvez said they have yet to identify the slain Abu Sayyaf members amid intelligence reports that one of them could be the sub-leader of the terror group headed by Indama and Hapilon.
The attack took place near a community-like encampment of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim rebel group in the country.
The Moro rebels said they were the ones attacked by army troops.
Galvez denied the troops attacked the Moro rebel camp, which was located 300 meters from the Abu Sayyaf encampment that they targeted. – AP, Jaime Laude, Roel Pareño