Soldiers from the Philippine Army perish in combat in Lanao del Sur
In the troubled southern region of the Philippines, an offensive launched by the military against the Maute group has resulted in displacement of approximately 2,000 residents and the deaths of two Philippine soldiers, with ten more wounded. The operation, which began in Butig, Lanao del Sur province on Wednesday, was initiated due to the group's continued threat and their intention to regain the area, as stated by General Gerardo Barrientos, commander of the division overseeing the offensive.
The Maute group, believed to have links with the Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, has been a persistent menace in the region even after losing their headquarters in February. Their recent actions include bombing power transmission towers and abducting and beheading two workers at a local sawmill in April.
The death toll from the clashes is currently unverified, with Colonel Roseller Murillo, the military chief with responsibility for the area, reporting the belief that about 37 militants were killed. However, no bodies of the alleged militants have been recovered.
The future of peace talks under incoming president Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who took office in 2022, is unclear. The peace negotiations were previously hampered by the collapse of talks between President Benigno Aquino's outgoing administration and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) due to parliament's failure to pass a law creating a new Muslim autonomous region.
MILF leaders have warned that Muslim rebels frustrated at the setback could be lured into more extreme forms of resistance, and that the Islamic State group could establish a stronghold in the south. Jemaah Islamiyah militants have had a long presence in the southern Philippines and have trained locals.
The ongoing conflict in the southern Philippines has claimed the lives of over 120,000 people, a grim reminder of the region's struggle with insurgency that has persisted for over 4 decades. The Maute group's regaining of territory serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that lie ahead in the pursuit of peace and stability in the region.
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