Two hostages held by the Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebel group were killed and a third was wounded during a rescue attempt by the Philippine military June 7. U.S. missionary Martin Burnham and Filipino nurse Ediborah Yap died during a raid on a group of militants in Zamboanga del Norte, while
Burnham's wife Gracia was rescued but wounded in the leg. The Abu Sayyaf kidnapped the Burnhams in May 2001; Yap had been held since June of last year.
The raid comes just days after U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz in the southern
The raid comes just days after U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz in the southern
Philippines, visited U.S. military forces where they are taking part in joint training exercises with Filipino soldiers directed against the Abu Sayyaf. Philippine military officials, however, said the recent raid on the group was organized and carried out by the Philippine military and no U.S. troops were involved.
Local Philippine media report that U.S. forces are in the area of the firefight, which took place not on the southern Basilan Island -- an Abu Sayyaf stronghold -- but on the Zamboanga peninsula. That area is less than 40 miles from Zamboanga City, where U.S.
Local Philippine media report that U.S. forces are in the area of the firefight, which took place not on the southern Basilan Island -- an Abu Sayyaf stronghold -- but on the Zamboanga peninsula. That area is less than 40 miles from Zamboanga City, where U.S.