A MALAYSIAN terrorist is believed to have been killed along with at least 26 other militants in a week-long offensive against the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan, the military announced Sunday.
Three soldiers were killed and 26 were wounded in the weeklong operation.
A spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao Command, Maj. Filemon Tan, said they were verifying reports that one of the slain militants was Malaysian jihadist Mohammad Hussein, alias Abu Anas.
Hussein is believed to be one of 10 foreigners—including four other Malaysians, two Indonesians and three Syrians—who are developing the extremist group Ansar Khilafa Philippines.
Last month, military forces killed Indonesian terrorist Sucipto Ibrahim Ali in Sultan Kudarat province.
Tan said that 16 militants were also believed injured in the clashes between the ASG and military personnel in Albarka town.
“Subject for confirmation, Malaysian jihadist alias Abu Anas was killed in the operation,” the military spokesperson said.
Tan said the operations started Dec. 14 and ended on Sunday with the seizure of an ASG encampment in Barangay Macalang, Albarka, that can hold at least 250 people.
He said the militants’ camp had 28 structures, including 10 dug-in bunkers.
Among the wounded were 12 soldiers hit by an improvised explosive device during clearing operations.
Also on Sunday, military and police bomb squads detonated three ASG mines in Indanan, Sulu.
The improvised explosive devices were found near Kilometer 3 Road, near an abandoned military detachment, said Joint Task Group Sulu commander Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado.
No one was hurt in the explosion.
Arrojado said the ASGs were targeting military convoys passing along the roadway.