7 Abus, soldier killed as Army storms Basilan lair

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines  â€“ Seven Abu Sayyaf militants and a soldier were killed when government troops raided a hideout of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group in Basilan at dawn yesterday, resulting in the recovery of materials and mortar shells used in making improvised explosive devices (IEDs). 

Eight other soldiers were wounded as fighting erupted during the raid in Barangay Macalang, Al-Barka town, according to Col. Carlito Galvez, commander of the 104th Army Brigade.

Galvez, who personally oversaw the operation on the ground, said their forces stormed the lair of Abu Sayyaf leader Nurhassan Jamiri about 4 a.m., triggering a firefight before the soldiers overran the safehouse.

“We assaulted the hideout of Jamiri and troops have recovered rounds of 81mm mortar shells that were being prepared for IEDs and bomb paraphernalia,” Galvez said.

Galvez said two of their soldiers were seriously wounded and were awaiting emergency evacuation to a military hospital as of press time.

Other military reports, however, revealed seven Abu Sayyaf men were killed in the encounter. There was no immediate body count to support the claim of Western Mindanao Command.

Fighting continued as the soldiers pursued the bandits, led by Jamiri toward a known stronghold of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). 

Galvez said troops had to be withdrawn to avoid an encounter with the MILF, whose members were just about 200 meters away where the Abu Sayyaf retreated.

Intelligence reports said the troops recovered around 30 IEDs, including some that have yet to be assembled.

Galvez could not immediately give the exact number of the IEDs recovered, but noted that based on their information, the bombs were meant to sow terror after Eid’l Fitr.

The military official did not specify any targets, but intelligence reports said the bombs were intended for attacks in Zamboanga City; Isabela and Lamitan cities in Basilan; Ipil town in Zamboanga Sibugay, and Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur.

According to intelligence reports, the groups of Jamiri and Puruji Indama have joined forces to block military forces in Al-Barka town.