Philippine troops attack IS-linked militant hideout amid hunt for long-wanted Singaporean Muhamad Ali Abdul Rahiman
- The strike, at daybreak on Monday, targeted several key commanders in the hilly hinterland of the country’s far south
One soldier was killed and seven others were wounded in the firefight in the village of Inaladan, where air force helicopters and bomber planes pounded a militant camp before army troops came in. The militants split into groups and withdrew, Sobejana said.
Sporadic gunbattles were continuing as troops pursued the militants belonging to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Dawla Islamiya, two small groups aligned with the Islamic State group. At least six bodies of suspected militants were found at the scene of the clashes, military officials said.
Sobejana said that up to 20 militants may have been killed but troops were still attempting to take full control of the camp, where most of the slain gunmen were hit by the air strikes and artillery fire.
IS-affiliated militants devastated Marawi in the Philippines. Now they have a new leader
