Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Troops clash with Abu Sayyaf brigands in Sulu

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 22): Troops clash with Abu Sayyaf brigands in Sulu

The government forces have clashed with a group of Abu Sayyaf brigands barely almost two hours after launching a focused military operations (FMO) Tuesday in the province of Sulu.

Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu commander, said the clash ensued around 8:55 a.m. Tuesday in Barangay Bungkaong, Patikul, Sulu.

Arrojado said the clash ensued as troops from the Bravo Company of the Army’s 35th Infantry Battalion chanced upon a group of 30 Abu Sayyaf brigands led by Guro Ibrahim while conducting FMO.

Arrojado, who is also the commander of the Army’s 501st Infantry Brigade, said the Abu Sayyaf brigands were “on the process of laying IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices)” when chanced upon by the troops.

He said the brigands were believed to have suffered casualties as one of the IEDs they were carrying prematurely exploded.

He said the firefight lasted for about 35 minutes after which the Abu Sayyaf brigands fled as the troops pounded their positions with artillery fires.

He said the Alpha Company troops of the Army’s 35th Infantry Battalion linked up with the Bravo Company personnel during the firefight.

He added that the troops from the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion, 1st Scout Ranger Battalion and 2nd Marine Brigade conducted blocking positions to contain the movements of the Abu Sayyaf brigands as the FMO continues.

The Joint Task Group Sulu launched the FMO effective Tuesday targeting the senior Abu Sayyaf brigand leaders and their foreign cohorts in Sulu.

Arrojado disclosed the brigands’ foreign cohorts included Malaysian and Indonesian nationals.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=806760

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.