|
U.S.-Philippines Troops Clash With Abu Sayyaf In Basilan
 |
| Protestors burn the American flag in the Philippine capital, Manila |
By
Kazi Mahmood
IOL
South East Asia correspondent
JAKARTA,
Feb. 27 (IslamOnline) - Security forces clashed with Abu Sayyaf gunmen in the
southern Philippine island of Basilan Monday, as impending danger looms over the
U.S. commandos advising Filipino troops, military sources said on Wednesday
morning.
Members
of the special U.S. force helping the local army fighting the
rebels-turned-kidnappers had their first encounter with Abu Sayyaf on Monday.
A
12-man Alpha team of U.S. Green Berets was deployed with the army battalion
involved in Monday's clash near the town of Tuburan, but was not involved in the
encounter.
The
pursuing military troops on Monday clashed with 20 heavily armed Abu Sayyaf
members. The presence of the Philippine Navy and the technical assistance of the
US troops also helped the military intercept the bandits' plan to escape and
forced the Abu Sayyaf to move back.
The
troops recovered two pump boats from the retreating Abu Sayyaf while pursuit
operations continued in nearby areas of Tuburan. The bandits had fled with
undetermined casualties after the encounter, towards different directions, an
army official said.
Military
officials said it was clear Abu Sayyaf was not giving up and that they were
ready to attack even if U.S. troops were involved in the search and capture
mission destined to free two U.S. hostages and a Filipino maid from the hands of
the rebels.
Monday’s
clash occurred about 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the headquarters of the
18th Infantry Battalion where the American Special Forces unit is deployed.
The
rebels were allegedly trying to escape from Basilan because of the presence of
the U.S. forces, but seemed cut out of their retreat and forced back in the
woods.
Abu
Sayyaf, a small militant group supposedly linked to the Al-Qaeda terror network,
is holding captive an American missionary couple and a Filipina nurse hostage in
Basilan's jungle interior.
Some
160 Special Forces commandos are deployed in Basilan, part of a 660-strong force
engaged in joint operations with the Philippines to crush Abu Sayyaf.
The
U.S. deployment in the south is the largest on foreign soil since Afghanistan
and is considered the Southeast Asian phase of the global war on terrorism
launched by President George W. Bush in response to the September terror attacks
in the United States.
A
top Philippine military official, however, said the Filipino soldiers would see
to it that none of the Americans will get hurt during the field training of
RP-U.S. war games exercises.
National
Security Adviser Roilo Golez, who recently visited US troops in Basilan, said he
was very impressed with the modern equipment used by the Americans. Filipino
troops are equipped with obsolete and old armaments, and at times, Abu Sayyaf
had better equipment than the local army.
The
U.S. troops received training from Filipino Marines on analyzing patrols routes
and procedures to avoid ambush. They were divided into 12-man teams and deployed
to the different Army and Marine brigades and battalions stationed in Basilan.
Meanwhile,
more than 300 American soldiers gathered in an airplane hangar Tuesday to honor
10 colleagues who were killed in a helicopter crash during anti-terrorism
exercises last week. The U.S. helicopter crashed early Friday off Negros island
in the southern Philippines after transporting U.S. special forces and supplies
from Zamboanga city to nearby Basilan Island. The bodies of three crew members
were recovered soon afterward, while the other seven bodies remain missing.
At
the same time, Filipinos in Zamboanga City Tuesday and in the Philippine
capital, Manila, Monday continued to protest the presence of U.S. soldiers
Tuesday, carrying placards that condemned America as the "no.1
terrorist", and burning American flags. The ongoing military exercise
between the Philippines and the United States has been bitterly opposed in the
country.
|
