MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — Government forces fended off an attack by the Islamic State-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters over the Christmas holiday, killing 13 bandits and wounding five others. The soldiers in the detachment, whom villagers had warned of a possible BIFF attack, managed to drive the bandits away after an hour-long gunfight. Members of the multi-sectoral peace and order councils in Datu Unsay, Datu Saudi, Shariff Aguak and South Upi towns said 13 BIFF bandits were killed by explosive rockets fired by attack helicopters. Army artillery positions in nearby towns also bombarded three BIFF groups from Datu Saudi and Datu Hoffer towns to prevent then from reinforcing their companions. Abu Misry Mama, spokesman of one of three factions in the BIFF, has confirmed their losses to the military counter-attack.

Source: Philippine Star December 26, 2017 04:07 UTC