Philippines kills 11 from Islamic Statelinked group

Philippine commandos killed 11 Islamist militants on a remote southern island on Friday, an army spokesman said, stepping up the offensive after President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated his aim to “destroy” one of Asia’s most notorious kidnap gangs. Major Filemon Tan said dozens of Abu Sayyaf rebels, a small but brutal group affiliated with Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, were also wounded in the 45-minute gun battle in the jungle of Jolo island. Seventeen commandos were wounded, Tan said.