20 soldiers wounded in battle with Abu Sayyaf

ZAMBOANGA CITY: At least 20 soldiers were wounded in a fierce battle on Friday with Abu Sayyaf rebels in Basilan, officials said.

The fighting erupted in Ungkaya Pukan town and spread to neighboring Tipo-Tipo town before dawn and continued well into the day after the rebels led by Puruji Indama, Nurhassan Jamiri and Basir Kaguran took cover in government schools, which were later regained by government troops, according to the military’s Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom).