2 soldiers killed in clash with Maute terrorists in Lanao del Sur

Two soldiers were killed and five others were injured Wednesday in a clash with members of the Maute terrorist group who were fleeing the military offensive in Butig town in Lanao del Sur.

According to Western Mindanao Command spokesman Maj. Filemon Tan on Thursday, the terrorists detonated an improvised bomb on the pursuing troops in Barangay Sandab, triggering a brief firefight.

The latest casualties brought the number of soldiers killed in the ongoing operations against the group to four and the wounded to 15. Clashes have been sporadic since Thursday last week.

Pursuit operations against Maute group members were ongoing as of Thursday afternoon, Tan said.

The military claimed to have killed 54 terrorists, although only 37 of them were "validated."

The operation was launched on Thursday to go after the group members who beheaded two sawmill workers in April. 

Meanwhile, Tan said they were able to seize another camp believed to be of the Maute group, this time in Barangay Poctan, also in Butig town. Before this, a camp that can accommodate some 100 people in Barangay Ragayan was taken by government troops. —KBK, GMA News