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 The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it has yet to capture the terrorists who ambushed and killed 4 soldiers over the weekend

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Dawla Islamiyah facing 'leadership vacuum': AFP

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<p>MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it has yet to capture the terrorists who ambushed and killed 4 soldiers over the weekend, adding that their manhunt operation continues. </p><p>READ: <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/18/afp-to-hunt-down-terrorists-that-killed-4-soldiers-during-ramadan-939" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AFP to hunt down terrorists that killed 4 soldiers during Ramadan</a></p><p>“Pursuit operations in progress… We don’t have the exact number of suspects, [but we] believe they are circling the area,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla told ANC’s Headstart.</p><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="2990623"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script><p>READ: <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/18/marcos-condemns-maguindanao-ambush-that-killed-4-soldiers-1103" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Marcos condemns Maguindanao ambush that killed 4 soldiers</a></p><p>She said that the suspects could be “around 20 or less.”</p><p>Terror group Dawla Islamiyah - Hassan Group was allegedly responsible for the killing of 4 soldiers in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur on Sunday. The 4 were on their way back after buying food for iftar - the evening meal of Muslims after sundown during Ramadan - when they were attacked.</p><p>Padilla said the attack could be a &quot;retaliation&quot; of the group over the military&#x27;s intensive operations against them.</p><p>“This is believed to be retaliation because they are losing support,&quot; she said, adding that the group is now facing a &quot;leadership vacuum&quot; and is &quot;dwindling in numbers.&quot;</p><p>The AFP targets to eliminate the terror group by the end of the year, Padilla said.</p><p>&quot;Hopefully by the end of the year maubos na natin ang puwersa nila.&quot;</p><p>The AFP said it has extended financial assistance to the families of the 4 soldiers killed in the ambush. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k6-ndt_JG7g?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it has yet to capture the terrorists who ambushed and killed 4 soldiers over the weekend</p>

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it has yet to capture the terrorists who ambushed and killed 4 soldiers over the weekend

Dawla Islamiyah facing 'leadership vacuum', Ramadan ambush could be retaliation: AFP

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Dawla Islamiyah facing 'leadership vacuum', Ramadan ambush could be retaliation: AFP

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 19, 2024 10:19 AM PHT

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Updated Mar 19, 2024 10:21 AM PHT

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