Gunfight in the Philippines, army kills 9 Abu Sayyaf rebels
Clashes between the army and Abu Sayyaf rebels in the southern Philippines have left nine gunmen dead and 19 others wounded.
The Philippine military said on April 12 that nine Abu Sayyaf militants were killed and 19 others were wounded in a series of clashes in Sulu province, southern Philippines.
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| Abu Sayyaf militants. Illustration photo: Reuters. |
According to military officials, the series of clashes began at 10:37 a.m. on April 11 (local time), when Philippine security forces engaged 120 Abu Sayyaf gunmen, led by the group's leader Radulan Sahiron, in the remote village of Patikul. The gunmen then split up to escape the pursuit of security forces. Several other clashes occurred that afternoon.
According to Major General Divino Rey Pabayo, Commander of the special forces in Sulu province, with the cooperation of local people, the pursuit operation was successful with nine gunmen killed and 19 others injured.
Abu Sayyaf is a rebel force, which began operating in the Philippines in the 1990s, known for its brutal kidnappings and murders.
