June–July 2016 Sulu and Basilan clashes

The Summer 2016 Sulu and Basilan clashes were armed conflicts that took place in two battlefronts on the southern islands of Mindanao, Philippines from 21 June to 12 July.

June–July 2016 Sulu and Basilan clashes
Part of Moro conflict
Date June–July, 2016 Location Patikul, Sulu Tipo-Tipo and Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan
Belligerents
Philippines Armed Forces of the Philippines	Abu Sayyaf
Commanders and leaders
Rodrigo Duterte	Isnilon Hapilon Furiji Indama
Units involved
Philippine Army 18th Infantry Battalion 32nd Infantry Battalion	Abu Sayyaf militants
Strength
5,000 (all involved in clashes)	about 200 in Sulu; about 200 in Basilan
Casualties and losses
2 killed, 45 wounded 16 wounded in Sulu, June 21 18 wounded in Sulu, June 22 1 killed, 6 wounded in Sulu, July 7 1 killed, 5 wounded in Basilan, July 12	50 killed, 35 wounded 3 killed, 10 wounded in Sulu, June 21 7 killed in Sulu, June 22 22 killed, 16 wounded in Sulu, July 7~July 11 18 killed, 9 wounded in Basilan, July 6~July 12

Background

After Canadian hostage John Ridsdel had been beheaded by Abu Sayyaf group (ASG) in late April 2016, Canadian hostage Robert Hall was beheaded on June 13, 2016.^[1] ASG even demanded $13 million ransom for the release of two other hostages.^[2]

Philippine President Duterte warned ASG to stop kidnapping, saying he would eventually confront them.^[3]

On 17 June, about five thousand Philippine soldiers had been deployed to the target areas in Sulu to track down ASG.^[2]

Clashes

Sulu

On 21 June, soldiers from the 32nd Infantry Battalion encountered about two hundred ASG members in Patikul town. Three ASG members were killed and at least 10 were wounded. Sixteen Army soldiers were wounded.^[4]

On 22 June, another firefight left at least seven ASG members killed and eighteen soldiers wounded.^[5]

As the hostage tracking operation continued, on 7 July, troops encountered suspected ASG members. One soldier was killed with six wounded. Nine ASG members were killed and at least nineteen militants were wounded.^[6]

By 11 July, 22 ASG were dead.

Basilan

On 6 July, suspected ASG bandits led by Furuji Indama and Isnilon Hapilon stormed a village in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan. The attack targeted the headquarters of the 18th Infantry Battalion.^[7] ASG occupied and fortified Hill 490 of Ungkaya Pukan town as a staging point.

On 12 July, Army rangers prepared to assault Hill 490 after an air and artillery barrage. One ranger was killed and five others were injured after one of them tripped an improvised explosive device. The government casualties were immediately airlifted to Camp Navarro General Hospital.^[8]

At least eighteen militants were killed with nine wounded.