Philippine
soldiers killed "more than 10" Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf
militants in an attempt to free Vietnamese captives held on a remote southern
island as troops fired howitzer shells on rebel positions, an army general said
on Monday.
The small
but violent militant group, known for extortion, beheading and
kidnap-for-ransom activities, is holding more than two dozen captives on Jolo
island. It beheaded a German captive two months ago when no ransom was paid for
his release.
Major-General
Carlito Galvez, military commander of western Mindanao, said 32 soldiers were
also wounded in Sunday's assault on an Abu Sayyaf hideout in Talipao town,
where the militants were believed to be holding six Vietnamese captives.
"The
105mm howitzer directly hit enemy positions," Galvez told reporters,
saying four rounds were fired when advancing troops were pinned down.
"More
than 10 were killed. Our troops had discovered mangled bodies in the area, but
we continue to pursue them."
There was no
word on the fate of the captives. Four of the wounded soldiers were airlifted
to a hospital while 28, among them a battalion commander, had minor shrapnel
wounds from grenade blasts.
Galvez said
troops had clashed for more than an hour with about 100 Abu Sayyaf rebels led
by Radullan Sahiron, a one-armed militant leader who figures on the U.S. State
Department's wanted list, with a $1-million bounty.
Last month,
five Malaysians were freed on Jolo and two Filipino sailors were rescued on
nearby Basilan island by soldiers chasing the Abu Sayyaf militant group.
(Reuters)
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