Fierce fighting broke out between soldiers and militants on a southern island of the Philippines, killing 23 people, an army spokesman said Sunday. 
Major Filemon Tan said the military attacked a stronghold of Abu Sayyaf rebels on the island of Basilan led by Isnilon Hapilon, an insurgent for whom the US State Department has offered a bounty of up to $5 million. 
"I can confirm 18 soldiers were killed and 53 were wounded," Tan said, adding that five militants were killed in Saturday's incident, which wounded 20 rebels. 
There was no immediate statement from Abu Sayyaf group, who posted videos on social media sites pledging allegiance to the ISIS group. 
The Philippine army has stepped up its offensive against the rebels since November, Tan said, when President Benigno Aquino ordered it to hunt down Abu Sayyaf over the kidnapping and execution of foreign nationals. 
On the nearby island of Jolo, the rebels on Friday released an Italian man from six months of captivity. Troops were also on alert as another Abu Sayyaf faction threatened to execute two Canadians and a Norwegian tourists after a ransom deadline expired.

Source: QNA