MANILA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Philippine security forces killed four alleged members of the militant group Dawlah Islamiya (DI) during a clash in Maguindanao del Norte province in the southern Philippines on Monday morning, the military said.
In a report, the military said the troops were conducting combat operations in Barira town when the clash occurred around 5:45 a.m. local time.
Troops recovered two M16 assault rifles, a cal. 45 pistol, two anti-personnel mines, and assorted ammunition from the encounter site, the report added.
No government soldier was wounded or killed in the firefight.
The DI is behind several atrocities in Mindanao, including the bombing at Mindanao State University in Marawi city in Lanao del Sur province in December 2023, which left four people dead and 50 others injured. ■
