Philippines Armed Forces Eliminate 2 Abu Sayyaf Extremists

Two militants from the Abu Sayyaf were killed following the Armed Forces of the Philippines operations.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Two militants from the Islamic extremist group Abu Sayyaf were killed following the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) operations, local media reported, citing military officials.

The armed forces conducted their search and destroy operations in a suspected rebel hideout in the southern province of Sulu, the Philippine Star reported Tuesday, citing senior officer Alan Arrojado.

The eliminated militants were reportedly under Abu Sayyaf's sub-leader Hatib Sawadjaan, who had long been pursued by the government forces, the military official said.

Last week, at least 20 Abu Sayyaf gunmen were killed during the Philippine Army raids.

Abu Sayyaf, a militant Islamist group based in the southwestern part of the Philippines, is notorious for carrying out kidnappings for ransom, often targeting foreigners and sometimes beheading captives if ransom is not paid. The militants aim to establish an independent Islamic state in the region.

The group was responsible for the Philippines' worst terrorist attack, the bombing of Superferry 14 in 2004, which killed 116 people, including over a dozen of children.