By Roel Pareño
ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines – The military confirmed at least 10 militants were killed in the offensive Friday against the Abu Sayyaf in Patikul, Sulu.
The firefight however left 17 soldiers injured, officials said.
Col. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS), said the troops clashed with about 150 militants from the combined groups of Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahiron and Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan.
Sobejana said they have confirmed 10 Abu Sayyaf killed so far and several others wounded.
“The number of killed enemies could be even more but the fleeing Abu Sayyaf members managed to retrieve their casualties,” Sobejana said.
He said some of those killed have already been identified as well six of the wounded bandits.
The fierce fighting initially erupted about 9 a.m. when troops from the 32nd Infantry Battalion encountered the Abu Sayyaf at Barangay Taglibi.
The firefight lasted for over an hour with government troops utilizing crew-served weapons, supported by airstrike and ground artillery.
The heavy fighting left an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf casualties and at least 14 soldiers wounded, mostly from barrages of grenade launchers from the militants.
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