Philippine commandos kill 11 militants in Jolo
Philippine commandos have killed 11 members of Abu Sayyaf militant group affiliated with the Takfiri Daesh terrorists on the southern island of Jolo.
Philippine’s army spokesman Major Filemon Tan said a 45-minute gun battle with nearly 100 Abu Sayyaf militants in Jolo’s jungle also left scores of militants injured.
He further said the Takfiri militants were holding about 20 hostages, including eight Indonesians, five Malaysians, a Norwegian and a Dutch citizen.
The military spokesman added that 17 commandos were also wounded in the fighting.
"The mission is clear. Seek and destroy the Abu Sayyaf," Tan said. "By all means, that's what we are doing and we will not stop until it's done."
Abu Sayyaf, quite well-known for its kidnappings, beheadings and deadly bombings, was founded in 1991 in Basilan, a southern island, with a pledge to wage a war against the government.
Abu Sayyaf members are in constant clashes with the Philippine forces across the troubled region.
The Takfiri group lost major commanders at the beginning of its fight and was gradually split into factions with a few hundred militants. The group continues to survive on ransom and extortion.
The Philippine president, who started his six-year term on June 30, has warned Abu Sayyaf to stop the wave of ransom kidnappings.
In October 2014, the militant group claimed it had received USD 5.3 million in exchange for two German hostages they had held captive for six months.
Last year, two major commanders of Abu Sayyaf expressed support for Daesh.
Abu Sayyaf was once regarded as an offshoot of al-Qaeda.
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