Nine Islamist militants, including two connected to the Catholic Mass attack, are slain by Philippine forces

GG News Bureau

New Delhi, 27th Jan. Nine pro-Islamic State extremists were slain by government forces in the southern Philippines on Saturday, the military reported. Two of the suspects were involved in a deadly explosion that occurred during a Catholic Mass last month.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced in a statement that four troops were hurt during the counterterrorism operation on Thursday and Friday in the province of Lanao del Sur, but that everyone is in stable condition.

The Islamic State-supporting militant group Daulah Islamiyah, which seized control of Marawi’s southern region in 2017 and managed to hold it through five months of military airstrikes and ground assaults, is claimed to have been responsible for the deaths, according to the AFP.

The two identified suspects in the bombing on December 3 at a Marawi university gymnasium, which left at least four people dead and fifty injured, were among those slain.

Military Chief Romeo Brawner said in a statement that “the precision and unwavering dedication exhibited in this operation… delivered swift and decisive justice for the victims of the despicable attack.”

“This operation sets a clear precedent: the AFP will not tolerate those who endanger the lives and well-being of our people,” Brawner stated.