FOXHOLE. Government troops overrun a lair with 70-person capacity of the Dawlah Islamiya following air and ground assaults Saturday (Feb. 13, 2021) in Barangay Bawang, Madamba, Lanao del Sur. In photo is one of the makeshift huts with foxholes underneath. (Photo courtesy of the Western Mindanao Command Public Information Office)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Soldiers are tracking down a group of Dawlah Islamiya terrorists whose lair the troops overran following ground and air assaults in the hinterlands of Lanao del Sur, officials said Monday.
Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the troops were on combat operation when they clashed with around 15 terrorists shortly after 10 a.m. Saturday in Barangay Bawang, Madamba.
Vinluan said the terrorists disengaged and hide in their foxholes as fierce gun battle ensued.
The troops pounded the lair with air assault and artillery fires that flushed out the terrorists out of their foxholes.
“We deployed air and artillery troops to conduct assault forcing the enemies to abandon their position,” said Maj. Gen. Generoso Ponio, commander of the Joint Task Force ZamPeLan (Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao provinces).
After the air and artillery assaults, intermittent firefight ensued and lasted for about six hours and 55 minutes as the terrorists “scattered for survival", Ponio said.
No one from the government side was hurt during the encounter while the number of casualties from the enemy side is yet to be determined.
“Our troops were able to penetrate the enemy’s defensive line through timely and accurate supporting fires,” said Ponio, who is also the 1st Infantry division commander.
The ground troops are from the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion, who were supported by the 1st Field Artillery Battalion and Tactical Operations Group-9.
He said the captured lair has 20 foxholes and eight makeshift huts that can accommodate around 70 people.
He said the troops saw several empty shells 7.62-millimeter linked, 40-mm grenade launcher, 5.56-mm and caliber 30 scattered in the area.
Meantime, Vinluan assured that the campaign against terrorism will not falter and “we thank our partner stakeholders for their undying support to all our endeavors.” (PNA)
