FBI confirms death of Abu Sayyaf militant leader in Philippines
The Philippines’s security forces have killed Isnilon Hapilon, leader of the Abu Sayyaf militant group, in an assault in the southern city of Marawi.
Philippine Defence Minister Delfin Lorenzana (R) Commander Eduardo Ano (M) hold photo of Isnilon Hapilon, leader of the Abu Sayyaf militant group at a press briefing on October 16 (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The Philippines’s
security forces have killed Isnilon Hapilon, leader of the Abu Sayyaf militant
group, in an assault in the southern city of Marawi.
Hapilon, with alleged link to Islamic State (IS) extremists, is one of the most wanted terrorist leaders in the Philippines, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on October 21 as citing the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
“We have received an official report that the US FBI has confirmed that the DNA sample taken from a body recovered by our opening units in Marawi matches that of Isnilon Hapilon," said Lorenzana.
The process of verification is also being conducted on the cadavers of the other terrorists that have been recovered so far, he added.
The Philippine military killed Hapilon and Omarkhayam Maute during an assault before dawn on October 16.
Earlier, the US State Department had offered 5 million USD for the arrest of Hapilon.
Hapilon is the leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group, a jihadist organisation in the Philippines founded with funds from al-Qaeda that also pledged loyalty to IS.
The militant group is behind the spate of kidnappings and numerous bombing attacks in the Philippines.
Hapilon, along with the Maute brothers, led the May 23 attack on Marawi. The military said IS militants from neighboring Malaysia and Indonesia also took part in the siege.
More than 1,000 people have been killed in the conflict that broke out on May 23, prompting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to place Mindanao under martial law.
Duterte declared to have liberated Marawi from the IS militants on October 17.-VNA
Hapilon, with alleged link to Islamic State (IS) extremists, is one of the most wanted terrorist leaders in the Philippines, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on October 21 as citing the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
“We have received an official report that the US FBI has confirmed that the DNA sample taken from a body recovered by our opening units in Marawi matches that of Isnilon Hapilon," said Lorenzana.
The process of verification is also being conducted on the cadavers of the other terrorists that have been recovered so far, he added.
The Philippine military killed Hapilon and Omarkhayam Maute during an assault before dawn on October 16.
Earlier, the US State Department had offered 5 million USD for the arrest of Hapilon.
Hapilon is the leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group, a jihadist organisation in the Philippines founded with funds from al-Qaeda that also pledged loyalty to IS.
The militant group is behind the spate of kidnappings and numerous bombing attacks in the Philippines.
Hapilon, along with the Maute brothers, led the May 23 attack on Marawi. The military said IS militants from neighboring Malaysia and Indonesia also took part in the siege.
More than 1,000 people have been killed in the conflict that broke out on May 23, prompting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to place Mindanao under martial law.
Duterte declared to have liberated Marawi from the IS militants on October 17.-VNA
You should also see
PM attends ceremony to start work on Him Lam resistance centre renovation project
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 17 attended a ceremony to start work on a project to renovate Him Lam resistance centre, a part of the Dien Bien Phu complex of fortifications in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien.
See more
World
Indonesia raises alert level to highest, warns of tsunami as volcano erupts
An airport in Madano city, the capital of Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province, has been ordered closed while hundreds of people evacuated and the alert level raised to the highest on April 18 due to large-scale volcanic eruptions of Mount Ruang.
World
ASEAN culture promoted in Mexico
Typical and diversified culture of ASEAN countries is being promoted at the ongoing ASEAN Week at the headquarters of Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies in Mexico city from April 15-19.
World
Thailand, New Zealand agree to elevate ties to strategic partnership
Thailand and New Zealand on April 17 agreed to upgrade bilateral ties to a strategic partnership by 2026, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.
World
Japan’s 2024 Diplomatic Bluebook sketches out cooperation orientation with ASEAN
The Foreign Ministry of Japan on April 16 announced its 2024 Diplomatic Bluebook, which clarifies the country's orientations to expand relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in general and Vietnam in particular.
World
Indonesia’s Ruang volcano erupts, hundreds evacuated
At least 800 people in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province have been evacuated after the area’s Ruang volcano has spewed lava and ash clouds into the sky for days, Indonesia’s volcanology agency said on April 17.
