One Marine is dead and 14 insurgents were killed as Philippine forces clashes with Abu Sayyaf guerillas in the southern Sulu province.  The Islamists were attempting to regain control of a training and storage camp that was captured by government troops.

The military is expecting Abu Sayyaf to continue to try and recapture its camp, but the government will respond with mortars, howitzers, and attack helicopters to protect it troops there.  The Islamists put a lot of work into the real estate – the troops discovered the area is heavily fortified with bunkers and strategically-placed individual foxholes.  The camp is concealed under thick vegetation and has about 50 makeshift huts that can accommodate around 100 persons, and has its own water source.

Abu Sayyaf has been linked to international militant networks including al-Qaeda.  But the US has worked with the Philippine military to wear down the militants.  It’s down to about 300 fighters, and is now much more focused on ransom kidnappings to raise money rather than “global jihad”.