[Al Arabiya Latest] Two soldiers and six members of an Islamic militant group holding an Italian Red Cross hostage were killed in heavy fighting in the southern Philippines on Thursday, the military said.There was no immediate confirmation on the physical state of Eugenio Vagni, the 62-year-old Italian who was abducted by the Abu Sayyaf along with two other aid workers--who have since been released unharmed--nearly five months ago.
A marine combat patrol came upon about 150 heavily armed Abu Sayyaf members near the town of Indanan on southern Jolo island at dawn, the military said. "A fierce firefight ensued and is still ongoing," Navy spokesman Lt. Colonel Edgard Arevalo said.
Two soldiers and six militants were killed, and four soldiers were wounded, he said.
He said the Abu Sayyaf unit was led by Albader Parad and Abu Pula, two senior commanders of the group thought to be holding Vagni. The Swiss and Philippine colleagues of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) staffer were released separately in April.