Philippine soldiers have killed a militant who had helped a local group linked to Islamic State to stage suicide bombings in the southern province of Sulu, the military said on Saturday. The body of Talha Jumsah, also known as Abu Talha, was recovered after a ...
After 100 days, Philippine army says 'last stand' near for Marawi fighters
One hundred days after militants loyal to Islamic State took over parts of a southern Philippine city, the military is confident the end is in sight for what has been its biggest security crisis in years. After a lightning strike on May 23 on Marawi ...
Philippine leader may launch 'invasion' of Abu Sayyaf's island lair
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte warned on Wednesday he might "invade" an island stronghold of the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf to "finish the game" following a thwarted attempt by the group to kidnap tourists on a resort island last week. Duterte offered cash rewards for the ...
Abu Sayyaf leader behind abductions, executions is killed, Philippines says
A leader of a militant group who was directly involved in the kidnap and execution of Canadian and German nationals was among those killed by Philippine troops in a clash on a resort island this week, the military said on Wednesday. Troops killed at least ...
Philippines says U.S. military to upgrade bases, defense deal remains intact
The United States will upgrade and build facilities on Philippine military bases this year, Manila's defense minister said on Thursday, bolstering an alliance strained by President Rodrigo Duterte's opposition to a U.S. troop presence. The Pentagon gave the green light to start the work as ...
Philippine Islamist militants free Korean and Filipino from cargo ship
Islamist militants in the Philippines allied with Islamic State freed on Saturday a South Korean cargo ship captain and a Filipino member of his crew held captive for more than three months on a southern island, an army spokesman said. Park Chulhong, skipper of the ...
Indonesian sailor says pirates were about to behead him when he swam out to sea in flight
An Indonesian tugboat crewman escaped from his Islamist militant captors in the Philippines on Wednesday by swimming out to sea after the militants threatened to cut his head off, a Philippine army spokesman said. Members of the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf group captured the Indonesian, ...
Manila maintains no-ransom policy for Abu Sayyaf hostage-takers
Philippine authorities on Sunday maintained their policy of not paying ransom for the release of hostages, on the eve of a deadline set by a local bandit group that has been holding three people, including two foreigners, hostage for months. Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, spokesman ...
Abu Sayyaf abducts 10 Indonesian sailors aboard tug off Malaysia
Ten Indonesian crew members on board a tugboat were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines over the weekend, officials in Manila said late on Monday. Two Philippine military officials said the militant group had demanded an undisclosed ransom amount from the boat's owners. ...
Filipino coast guardsmen flee terrorist captivity; no word on Japanese, other hostages
Two members of the Philippine Coast Guard taken hostage by al-Qaida-linked militants three months ago have escaped captivity during a raid by U.S.-trained commandos on a remote southern island, an army spokesman said on Thursday. Four other hostages, including two businessmen, from Malaysia and South ...
U.S. to grill captured wife of key Islamic State leader about hostages, officials say
The captured wife of a senior Islamic State leader who was killed in a weekend raid will face questions over what she and her husband knew about the group's treatment of hostages, including Americans, U.S. officials said. The U.S. government believes the leader, Abu Sayyaf, ...
