Singaporean militant killed, says Philippines

Police officers investigating the site of an explosion outside a shopping mall in Cotabato City on the southern island of Mindanao, on Dec 31, 2018. An official says the attack was probably in retaliation for the deaths of four militants in clashes with security forces last month. PHOTO: AFP

Philippine security forces say that they killed a Singaporean militant about two weeks ago on the war-torn southern Philippine island of Mindanao.

The man was identified as Abu Hud Zain, though it was not clear whether this was his real name.

He was killed alongside an Indonesian militant and two Filipinos. Their deaths highlight the worrying presence of foreign nationals in the battlefields of southern Philippines.

Meanwhile, in Indonesia, anti-terror unit Detachment 88 put 396 militants out of action last year, a spike from the 176 in 2017.

Some observers say the figure exposes the growing extent of militancy in Indonesia.

SEE WORLD:

Mindanao blast payback for killing of militants?

Jakarta's 'worrying' haul of militants

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 05, 2019, with the headline Singaporean militant killed, says Philippines. Subscribe