Terrorist killed, 9 others wounded in Marawi fighting

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Security forces killed a pro-ISIS sub-leader and wounded his wife in a fierce battle that also injured 7 policemen and an army soldier in Marawi City, a stronghold of the notorious Islamist group Daulah Islamiya.

A military photo shows the body of slain Daulah Islamiya sub-leader Usop Nasif following a fierce gun battle with security forces. 

A military photo shows the Daulah Islamiya sub-leader Usop Nasif when he was still alive. 

Army Brig. Gen. Jose Maria Cuerpo II, commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, said security forces tracked down the hideout of Usop Nasif in the village of Guimba, but fighting broke out after the terrorist and his followers apparently sensed the arrival of soldiers.

 

The fighting lasted 30 minutes and killed Nasif, also known by his nom de guerre Abu Asraf within the Daulah Islamiya or Islamic State. His wife Almaira Panduma was captured and brought to hospital.

 

Cuerpo did not say whether the woman fought soldiers side by side with Nasif, who was tagged by the military as a “notorious” sub-leader of the Daulah Islamiya. He did not say how many of Nasif’s followers were able to escape the fighting or how.

 

Nasif’s group fought alongside the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups, and foreign ISIS soldiers during the 5-month siege of Marawi in May 2017 that killed and wounded hundreds of people and left the city in ruins.

 

Cuerpo did not give details of the daring Monday operation.

 

But Army Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said security forces tracked down the terrorist hideout after civilians tipped off the military on the presence of Nasif's group in the village.

 

“Combined elements of the 103rd Infantry Brigade and Lanao PNP acted on information provided by the residents of Guimba regarding the presence of the notorious DI sub-leader Usop Nasif in their locality. Operating troops proceeded to the location of Nasif’s hideout and while they were approaching, the target and his followers opened fire thereby resulting in a firefight,” Vinluan said

 

“Nasif incurred fatal wounds during the 30-minute firefight. He was immediately rushed to Amai Pakpak Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician. The encounter also resulted in the wounding of seven PNP personnel and one soldier. Their identities are withheld pending notification to their next of kin,” he added.

Nasif was also linked to the murder of 3 soldiers - Corporals Albert Saura and Bryan Binayug, and Private 1st Class Albert Soriano – in Poona Piagapo town in the restive province of Lanao del Norte in January this year.

 

“With the neutralization of Nasif, we are hopeful that his followers will be convinced to lay down their arms and end their armed struggle,” Vinluan said. (Mindanao Examiner)

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