Army links fresh Maguindanao attacks to antiterror operations
Military officials in the Philippines report that recent attacks on army units in Maguindanao are likely retaliatory actions by Islamic State-inspired militants. These incidents follow successful government operations against local terrorist groups ahead of upcoming regional elections.
Why it matters
It highlights ongoing security challenges and the impact of counter-terrorism operations on regional stability during election periods.
COTABATO CITY, BARMM, Philippines - Four attacks against Armed Forces of the Philippines units in Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur over the weekend may have been retaliatory actions by Islamic State-inspired militants and other lawless groups following recent government offensives, military and police officials said on Monday.
The latest attacks came days after the implementation of the election gun ban in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which took effect on July 16 ahead of the region's first parliamentary elections on Sept. 14.
At around 7 p.m. on Sunday, about 15 armed men opened fire on the detachment of the Army's 12th Mechanized Company, 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion, in Talitay, Maguindanao del Norte.
READ: Man lobbed grenade inside Army base in Maguindanao del Norte
Government troops returned fire, triggering a 20-minute firefight before the attackers retreated.
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