U.S. deploys counter-terrorism operators in Southern Philippines

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Pentagon has deployed U.S. Marines in the southern Philippines to train and assist Filipino soldiers in counter terrorism.

The American soldiers replaced another batch from the Special Operations Task Force 511.2 (SOTF 5112) under the U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF) based in the Western Mindanao Command here. 

Photos released by the Western Mindanao Command show the awarding of plaques to the U.S. counter-terrorism task force SOTF 511.2 in Zamboanga City. 

The Western Mindanao Command confirmed the arrival of the U.S. Marines but it did not say how many have arrived. 

Brig. Gen. Aldrin Annani, the Deputy Commander of Western Mindanao Command, lauded the departing U.S. troops led by Maj. Jeffry Schuele and awarded his group the Military Civic Action Medal and plaques for their valuable contributions.

Shuele's group was deployed here in July 15, 2023 and would return to their unit on January 31 after six months tour in southern Philippines.

Schuele expressed his gratitude to his Filipino counterpart for making their six-month mission a success. He also encouraged the Western Mindanao Command to give the same support to the new group of U.S. Marines.

Annani welcomed the new batch of American soldiers who will be part of the SOTF 511.2 in the next six months.

He lauded the SOTF 511.2 for supporting the endeavors of the Western Mindanao Command. 

Pentagon has been providing training and technical support to local troops in combating terrorism since 2001.

Marine Raider with Special Operations Task Force 511.2 provides instruction on Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems to service members of the Philippine Marine Corps during Marine Aviation Support Activity 22 in Palawan, Philippines, June 7, 2022.

Filipino and American military commanders give little details of the operations of the JSOTF which was previously called Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines and was part of Operation Enduring Freedom and the global War on Terror.

The Operation targeted the various Jihadist terror groups operating in the country. By 2009, about 600 U.S. military personnel were advising and assisting the Philippine military in the South. 

In addition, in 2014, the Central Intelligence Agency had sent its elite paramilitary officers from their Special Activities Division to hunt down and kill or capture key terrorist leaders.

This group had the most success in combating and capturing Al-Qaeda leaders and the leaders of associated groups like Abu Sayyaf. (Mindanao Examiner)