Philippine Troops Kill 15 IS Supporters

The Philippine military claimed 15 were killed and at least 7 were wounded in its latest offensive against terrorists in Butig, Lanao del Sur, where local terror organizations Maute Group and the Abu Sayyaf Group have reportedly linked up.

Among them is an Indonesian terror suspect identified as “Mohisen”, according to Colonel Edgard Arevalo, chief of the Armed Forces Public Affairs Office, Rappler reported.

“At least 15 were killed and seven others wounded in airstrikes a little past midnight January 26 in the municipality of Butig, Lanao del Sur,” Arevalo said.

Philippine Armed Forces chief, General Eduardo Ano said the offensive was a significant success for the military that made an ambitious commitment to crush local terror groups by June 2017.

“It is too early to rejoice but I consider this initial success a significant gain in the campaign to defeat the terror groups in Western Mindanao by the end of June 2017 as desired by the President and Commander-in-Chief Rodrigo Duterte,” Ano said.

The military offensive was launched after they monitored Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon joining the Maute Group in Central Mindanao purportedly under instructions from the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group.

IS supposedly wants to establish a caliphate in Central Mindanao, as it is losing ground in the Middle East.