Military assaults Abu Sayyaf lair near Zambo City

The military on Thursday pounded a lair of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group off Zamboanga City following information that two of the bandit group’s prominent leaders were there, a military spokesman said. At least seven rockets were fired from the Mg-520 attack helicopters starting 5:20 a.m. at the terrorist lair on Sakol island near Zamboanga City, said Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the military’s Western Mindanao Command. The attacks, which Cabangbang described as “a surgical strike," were launched after the military received a tip that senior Abu Sayyaf leaders Puruji Indama and Kair Mundus and about 15 followers were in the camp. Mundus is included in the list of wanted terrorists of the United State, which has offered $500,000 for his neutralization. “The information on their presence came in last night….Seven rockets were fired, after which, soldiers from our joint special operations group were air dropped in the area," said Cabangbang. He said the military received intelligence information about the group’s presence from various sources and subsequently confirmed by different intelligence units. He also said they found the bandits’ proximity to the city alarming. “It’s actually alarming because it’s already near the city. That is why we immediately conducted operations to thwart whatever plans they have," Cabangbang said, noting that Sakol Island “is not their (Abu Sayyaf) usual area." Cabangbang could not say if the air strikes resulted in casualties, adding that the ground forces who were inserted to the island have yet to reach the camp, which he said is located in a marshland. “They landed far from the area because the camp is in the middle of a marshland. They were dropped via helicopter…It’s in a marsh area so our troops are having difficulty penetrating it," he said. - KBK, GMA News