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| Southeast Asia |
| AFP girds for final battle with Sayyaf |
| 2007-01-28 |
| The military has embarked on a final assault against the Abu Sayyaf Group and its terrorist ally, Jemaah Islamiyah. The major offensive involves 8,000 soldiers and represents the final stage of Oplan: Ultimatum, said Brig. Gen. Ruben Rafael, commander of Task Force Comet, which was formed late last year to go after the terrorist groups. With their leaders Khadaffy Janjalani and Abu Solaiman dead, Abu Sayyaf has been reduced into smaller groups, Rafael said. “The deaths of Janjalani and Solaiman have dealt a big blow to the already disorganized group.” The groups, run by so-called sub-leaders, were expected to re-group soon and join forces to stop the military assault. Rafael would not confirm reports that the aging Radullan Sahiron and the younger, more aggressive Albader Parad have taken over the ASG top leadership. But he said the remaining ASG leaders including Isnilon Hapilon should not be underestimated because they were also capable of leading the ASG remnants citing their vast experience with the group being senior leaders. Rafael said the 8,000 troops were enough to finish the job of wiping out the Abu Sayyaf. “I have enough forces there to go after them but how we are going to deal with the terrorist group, I would not tell you. That is my secret.” Rafael said the troops have been recharged and re-energized and are raring to go after the terrorists following their successive operations, which resulted in the killing of Janjalani and Solaiman. Government forces have kept the ASG bandits on the run forcing them to split into smaller groups though they have already been virtually trapped in the jungles of Sulu. “We have also kept the two JI bombers—Dulmatin and Omar Patek—running with ASG bandits,” Rafael said as he confirmed intelligence reports that the duo, who allegedly masterminded the 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people mostly Australian tourists, were still in Jolo. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 way to go guys! |
| Posted by: bk 2007-01-28 11:50 |