MANILA (AP) — Hundreds of soldiers began an assault on Wednesday in the southern Philippines on two jungle encampments of militants linked to Al Qaeda, killing at least 20 gunmen and seizing bombs that had been set to explode, military officials said.
The simultaneous predawn attacks on the militant group, Abu Sayyaf, on Basilan Island, set off fierce fighting that continued late in the day. Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, the regional military commander, said 23 soldiers had been killed.
Abu Sayyaf, which has about 400 gunmen on Basilan and nearby Jolo Island and the Zamboanga Peninsula, is on a United States list of terrorist organizations because of its involvement in bombings, ransom kidnappings and beheadings of hostages. The group is suspected of having received money and training from Al Qaeda.
Abu Sayyaf has been weakened by American-backed offensives for the past several years, and has turned to kidnappings for ransom in recent months.
Filipino security officials fear that the ransom payments could revive the group on Basilan and Jolo, two predominantly Muslim regions that are among the country’s poorest areas.
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