At Least 7 Killed In Fighting With Militants In Basilan

At least seven people have been killed in clashes between Philippine forces and Muslim militants in the southern Philippines, reports the Manila Bulletin.

Fighting broke out on Tuesday between Philippine soldiers and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels during a military operation against armed criminals in Basilan province believed responsible for recent bomb attacks.

Clashes took place intermittently into Thursday.

At least three soldiers and four rebels were killed, reported Al Jazeera (Qatar). At least 13 soldiers and an undetermined number of rebels were injured.

Army officials said that the rebels fired at a group of soldiers first, sparking the ensuing gunfight.

Both sides accused the other of violating a 2014 peace deal, which ended a long-running conflict between Muslim rebels and the Philippine government.