|
Military, Islamists Clash in Philippines, 15 Dead
[VOA News] Philippine officials say at least 15 people have been killed during fighting between government troops and Islamist bully boyz in a remote southern region.The fighting began Tuesday and continued into early Wednesday in the town of Patikul on the island province of Sulu, a stronghold of Abu Sayyaf ...also known as al-Harakat al-Islamiyya, an Islamist terror group based in Jolo, Basilan and Zamboanga. Since its inception in the early 1990s, the group has carried out bombings, kidnappings, murders, head choppings, and extortion in their uniquely Islamic attempt to set up an independent Moslem province in the Philippines. Abu Sayyaf forces probably number less than 300 cadres. The group is closely allied with remnants of Indonesia's Jemaah Islamiya and has loose ties with MILF and MNLF who sometimes provide cannon fodder... bully boys. The military says the fighting broke out when Abu Sayyaf fighters attempted to retake a jungle camp captured by government troops Monday. Officials say the Islamist advance was successfully driven back, although at least one soldier was among those killed in the festivities. Posted by: Fred 2014-05-01 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=390345 |