War, four of the 18 Philippine troops killed Abu Sayyaf Beheaded

A fierce war between the Philippine army with the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan for about 10 hours killed 23 people, consisting of 18 Filipino soldiers and five militants of Abu Sayyaf. Four out of 18 Philippine soldiers, have been killed by state beheaded.

This was revealed by the Philippine Army, Sunday (10/04/2016). Fighting breaks out on Saturday, where the Abu Sayyaf deployed more than 100 armed militants.

Information officer Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) Philippines, Filemon Tan, said that the fighting broke out at about 7:55 Saturday morning.

Tan did not release the identities of the Filipino soldiers were killed. He only mentions the victims come from Special Forces Battalion 4th and 44th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

Tan said the original Filipino forces were conducting security operations, but dealing with about 120 armed Abu Sayyaf militants led by Isnilon Hapilon.

Hapilon has entered the list of most wanted terrorists in Asia. Government of United States (US) has offered a reward of $ 5 million for his capture dead or alive.

Last year, the group Hapilon had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State or ISIS led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Philippine military

"It is part of a military operation against the Abu Sayyaf, which was launched after a series of kidnappings of foreigners," he told reporters, as quoted interaksyon. From a number of foreign nationals being held hostage Abu Sayyaf, there are 10 Indonesian citizens (citizen), which until now has not released.

Today, the Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Hernando Irriberi, rushed to the headquarters of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) to meet with the commander of the local area led by Major General Gerry Barrientos.

According to Tan, citing reports from the battlefield, the Abu Sayyaf militants were killed, among others; Mohammad Khattab, a Moroccan terrorist and Ubdaida, son Hapilon.