#Philippines Kill 11 #Takfiri Militants

Local Editor

Philippine commandos killed 11 Takfiri militants on a remote southern island Friday, an army spokesman said, stepping up the offensive after President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated his aim to "destroy" one of Asia’s most notorious kidnap gangs.

Major Filemon Tan said dozens of Abu Sayyaf rebels, a small but brutal group affiliated with Daesh, were also wounded in the 45-minute gun battle in the jungle of Jolo Island.

Seventeen commandos were wounded, Tan said, adding the soldiers clashed with about 100 Abu Sayyaf militants holding about 20 hostages, including eight Indonesians, five Malaysians, a Norwegian and a Dutch national.

The Abu Sayyaf has dogged successive Philippine governments, entrenching its network with vast sums of ransom money in what has become one of Asia’s most lucrative kidnap rackets.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team