Soldier, two terrorists killed in southern Philippine clashes

Major General Diosdado Carreon, commander of the Army's task force in central Mindanao, said three other soldiers were also injured in the offensive that took place on Monday morning in Ampatuan town.

Troops of the joint task force central launched a focused military operation against the Daesh-inspired terrorist group using air and artillery assets, Carreon said in a statement.

Carreon added he ordered the deployment of troops following the surgical operation that led to a clash in Salman, a village in Ampatuan town on Monday morning.

He said troops also recovered a Barrett .50 caliber rifle, an M14 rifle, and an improvised explosive device from the clash site.

"The operation was launched in response to a report from the communities regarding the presence of the armed group in their area," Carreon said.

Colonel Jose Narciso, commander of the Philippine Army's 601st Infantry Brigade operating in central Mindanao, vowed "to continue the momentum and sustain our gains of this operation in order to safeguard the civilians and put an end to this threat to society."

The southern Philippines has for long been threatened by local home grown terrorist groups showing allegiance to some international terror groups. Terrorist groups including the Abu Sayyaf group and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters are allegedly behind the series of bombings, robberies and killings in the region.