Manila - Heavy clashes have broken out between Philippine troops and Muslim militants trying to regain control of a captured camp in southern Sulu province, leaving 14 Abu Sayyaf rebels and one marine dead, officials said on Wednesday.Read the whole thing here.
Military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala said fighting that began late on Tuesday continued until early morning on Wednesday, with the militants attempting to regain control of an Abu Sayyaf training and storage camp and in Patikul township that was captured by government troops.
Marine representative Captain Ryan Lacuesta, citing intelligence reports, said the clashes left 14 rebels dead, while one marine was killed and 19 were wounded.
Zagala said troops are securing the rebel camp they captured on Monday.
Militants from the group of Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahiron are expected to launch more attacks and the military will continue to use mortars, howitzers and attack helicopters to protect it troops there, he said.
The Abu Sayyaf had links to international militant networks, including al-Qaeda, but a US-backed Philippine military crackdown has weakened it considerably in recent years.
US Army Special Forces might have jacked up the operation in Mali but they did it right in the Philippines.
So why are we establishing bases there? I'm personally beginning to doubt whether that's such a good idea. The Philippines have had a low level insurgency which occasionally hits almost all out shooting war for decades now and it is showing no signs of getting better. Quite honestly its looking like its getting worse.
Deterring China should not include us getting involved in someone else's insurgency which will lead to another NATION BUILDING FIASCO! The US military wins the war but always loses the nation building part (civilian wishful thinking). Lets not make that mistake in the PI.
