Four suspected rebels killed in clashes in Philippines
FILE PHOTO: On July 30, 2017, guerrillas of the New People's Army stand in formation in the Sierra Madre mountain range, located east of Manila. - AFP
MANILA: Four suspected insurgents were killed in clashes with government troops in the Philippines over the weekend, the Philippine military said Monday (June 16).
In a report, the military said clashes broke out in Eastern Samar province in the central Philippines and Surigao del Norte province in the southern Philippines on Sunday, resulting in the killing of four New People's Army (NPA) rebels.
According to the report, three NPA rebels were killed in Surigao del Norte fighting, while one rebel died in an Eastern Samar province encounter.
NPA rebels have been fighting against government troops since 1969.
Military data showed that the NPA's personnel strength has declined since its peak of around 25,000 armed members in the 1980s.
Despite its dwindling fighters, the NPA continues to launch small-scale attacks in the countryside. - Xinhua
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
29 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Cambodia blocks Thai fruits and vegetables in border spat
PHNOM PENH: Cambodia on Tuesday banned imports of fruit and vegetables from Thailand as the two countries face off over a border dispute that led to a bloody military clash last month. One Cambodian soldier was killed on May 28 as troops exchanged fire in a disputed area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of Cambodia, Thailand and Laos meet. The Thai and Cambodian armies both said they acted in self-defence. Thailand has imposed border restrictions with Cambodia in recent days, while Cambodia banned Thai dramas from TV and cinemas, closed a popular border checkpoint, and cut internet bandwidth from Thailand. On Monday, Cambodia's influential former leader Hun Sen Monday issued an ultimatum to Thailand to lift border crossing restrictions within 24 hours or face a ban on all Thai fruit and vegetable imports. Cambodian authorities said Tuesday their Thai counterparts still imposed the border restrictions, and Hun Sen's ultimatum took effect. "We have implemented the ban on imports of Thai fruit and vegetables since this morning," Sok Veasna, director general of the General Department of Immigration, told AFP. He said visitors could still cross the border between the two countries. Cambodia has formally asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to help resolve the border dispute in four areas – the site of last month's clash and three ancient temples. Hun Sen said on Monday that his country had to go to the ICJ because Cambodia wanted "peace" as the two countries would never reach an agreement in the four areas. Hun Sen also called on tens of thousands of Cambodian migrants working in Thailand to return home, saying they would face increasing discrimination as the border spat drags on. The row dates back to the drawing of the countries' 800-kilometre (500-mile) frontier in the early 20th century during the French occupation of Indochina. Cambodia has previously sought help from the ICJ in a territorial dispute over a border temple. In 1962, the court ruled then the disputed Preah Vihear temple belonged to Cambodia and in 2013, the ICJ awarded an area next to the temple to Cambodia too. Thailand said it did not accept the court's jurisdiction. Violence sparked by the dispute has led to 28 deaths in the region since 2008.--AFP
New Straits Times
30 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Loud booms heard over Jerusalem, Tel Aviv as Iran launches missiles
JERUSALEM: Loud booms were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on Tuesday, AFP journalists reported, after air raid sirens sounded in several parts of Israel and the military warned of incoming Iranian missiles. "A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel," the military said in a statement. It added that the air force was "operating to intercept and strike where necessary to eliminate the threat." Around 20 minutes later, the army released a statement saying people were allowed to leave protected spaces in several areas across the country. It said search and rescue teams were operating in several locations where "reports of fallen projectiles were received." In a statement on Telegram, the Israeli police reported that "missiles and shrapnel fell in the Tel Aviv area, causing material damage but no injuries." The fire and rescue service said there was an initial report of a "missile strike and fire" in the Dan district, an area surrounding Tel Aviv. "Around 08:45 (0545 GMT), numerous calls were received... regarding a missile strike and a fire in the Gush Dan area. Firefighting forces are on their way to the scene," it said in a statement. Despite growing calls for the longtime foes to end hostilities, neither Israel nor Iran showed any signs of cutting short the missile blitz that kicked off Friday, when Israel launched an unprecedented series of aerial raids targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities.--AFP
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Two arrested over murder of Australian man in Bali villa
DENPASAR, Indonesia: Two suspects allegedly involved in the murder of an Australian man at a villa on the popular Indonesian resort island of Bali have been arrested after a days-long manhunt, police said Tuesday. Authorities have been searching for two men after the shooting of Zivan Radmanovic, a 32-year-old Australian national, on Saturday. He was killed when two people burst into his villa in the tourist area of Canggu and at least one opened fire. A second man, 34-year-old Sanar Ghanim, was seriously wounded in the attack. One of the suspects was apprehended in the capital Jakarta while a second was to be returned from abroad, national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo told reporters, without identifying the country or giving details about the suspects. "Regarding the shooting of Australian citizens, I already received reports from the regional police chief (in Bali). They have been secured," Listyo said. "One is already in Jakarta, another is on his way from abroad, (they) will enter Jakarta." The arrests were made following cooperation between Indonesian police, immigration authorities and the Australian Federal Police, he said, adding Bali police would later release further details about the arrests. Jakarta police and the Australian embassy in Jakarta did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. Witnesses, including Radmanovic's wife, said the perpetrators who fled the scene after the attack were speaking in English with a thick Australian accent, according to a local police statement. Gun crime on the island of Bali and wider Indonesia is rare, and the archipelago nation has strict laws for illegal gun possession.--AFP
