MILF clashes with retreating Maute Group members

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters providing support to government troops, engaged withdrawing members of the Islamic State-inspired Maute group along the boundary of Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao on Friday.

 

Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, said two MILF men were wounded in the fighting as well as an undetermined number of the Maute group followers.

 

He said MILF fighters under Jimmy Balitor encountered the withdrawing jihadists led by Abdullah Maute about 7 a.m. at Cararao Complex, which is bounded by the municipalities of Buldon and Barira of Maguindanao province and Butig town of Lanao del Sur.

 

The Maute group started to withdraw after Army Rangers discovered its lair in the Cararao Complex Thursday.

 

Tan said the Joint Task Force Central, through the 37th Infantry Battalion, has contact and coordination with the MILF group that engaged the Maute group. 

 

The troops also provided complementary combat operations near the encounter site to assist the MILF.

 

The military has been pursuing the Maute group, which has been driven off from Butig town in operations that left 63 militants dead and 17 others wounded.

 

The military has also suffered two dead and 39 wounded in the ongoing offensive operations.