Acting on intelligence reports of an Abu Sayyaf buildup in some of the hinterland villages of Patikul, Sulu, as well as the sighting of three of the top commanders of the terrorist group, the Southern Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines of the United States Pacific Command, dispatched three elite units to the area.

 

Their mission is to locate, apprehend or eliminate Abu Sabaya Jr alias Kumander Black Godzilla; Amir Samir alias Kumander Red Scorpion; and Ali Jakiri alias Kumander Green Dragon—who are in the most wanted list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their involvement in terrorist actions against US interests, including the kidnapping and beheading of some American nationals.

 

 

The three are believed to be in one of two suspected Abu Sayyaf encampments, a smaller one at Pansul and a bigger one at Lumba Hill. But before Philippine and US forces could hit the area, they would have to clear and secure several smaller villages along the way.

 

 

Commanding the combined Philippine-US special forces units deployed to the area was Maj. George “Shep” Shepherd. He had at his disposal elements from the Philippine Navy Special Warfare Group (SWAG), US Navy SEALs, US Army Green Berets and US Marine Expeditionary Unit-Special Operations Capable.

 

 

The combined team was inserted by US Army CH-47 Chinooks from their main base in Jolo at around 1100H. The first unit immediately cleared and secured the nearby village of Liang while the second unit reached the lakeside village of Tuang with no enemy contact.

 

Philippine SWAG elements on their way to Tuang

 

Both villages were also abandoned. Apparently, the villagers, who are believed to be sympathetic to the Abu Sayyaf, have been alerted by the approaching helicopters and fled the area. There was also no indication of the presence of the Abu Sayyaf in both villages.

 

Philippine Navy SWAG secures area on the approach to Danag

 

The third Philippine-US unit was tasked to clear and secure the smaller northern villages of Danag and Igasan. At Danag, they were to establish a forward operating base there and wait for the two other units before making their push forward to the villages of Latih and Bonbon.

 

At 1145H, elements of the third unit were ambushed by an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf fighters coming from the village of Latih. This resulted in a fierce firefight between the two groups. Badly outnumbered and sustaining casualties, the Philippine-US elements requested support from the first and second units in Liang and Tuang.

 

Reinforcing Philippine-US Special Forces engage the enemy in Danag

 

At 1200H, the first unit encountered an Abu Sayyaf blocking force on the approach to Danag. The Abu Sayyaf put up a strong resistance, holding the first unit from reinforcing the third unit. The second unit made its way unopposed to Igasan and engaged the Abu Sayyaf near Latih. At 1230H, the Abu Sayyaf began withdrawing from Latih.

US Special Forces clear Igasan

 

After making an initial headcount, Philippine and US forces reported one American soldier missing. After searching the area, it was concluded that the soldier was most likely taken hostage by the fleeing Abu Sayyaf.

 

US Special Force member secure Latih in search of missing US soldier

 

This development has complicated the mission of the Philippine and US forces and priority was now being given to the rescue of the missing American personnel. The service member has to be retrieved before the Abu Sayyaf which will most likely make use of him for propaganda purposes. It will utilize him to prove that despite the efforts of Manila and Washington, the Al-Qaeda linked Philippine terrorist group is still a force to contend with.

 

Philippine Navy SWAG guards approach to Latih

 

The combined Philippine and US forces regrouped at Latih in preparation for a rescue. While the hostage would most likely have been taken to Pansul or Lumba Hill, there is a possibility that he might have been taken to Bonbon since the Abu Sayyaf would expect government forces to hit the two camps at Pansul and Lumba Hill. The Abu Sayyaf would think that Philippine and US forces will not consider Bonbon as an unlikely choice for a hiding place but if the hostage was taken there, he could easily be taken to neighboring Basilan island from there, thus making it more difficult to rescue him.

 

Taking no chances Philippine and US forces struck Bonbon at 1300H, and missed Abu Sayyaf elements who were earlier there. The two other combined Philippine-US elements began their approach on the smaller Abu Sayyaf camp at Pansul and were met with very stiff resistance. Apparently, all three Abu Sayyaf commanders and the hostage were in the area.

 

Abu Sayyaf fighters put up stiff resistance against Philippine-US troops

 

At around the same time, Abu Sayyaf elements retook Taung and Liang to relieve pressure on Pansul. They held the two villages for some time until they were pushed out by Philippine and US forces. No intelligence could be gathered from captured Abu Sayyaf fighters or from the villagers they encountered nearby.

 

Meanwhile, fighting continued at the heavily-defended Pansul area with both sides sustaining casualties. The Abu Sayyaf was well bunkered in and was expected to hold on to the area as it is a key approach to the main camp at Lumba Hill.

Kumanders Red Scorpion and Green Dragon in Pansul

 

At 1345H, the Abu Sayyaf disengaged and withdrew from Pansul just as a squad of Philippine Navy SEALs and their US counterparts was penetrating the enemy camp from the northern side. At 1350H near Igasan, a small band of Abu Sayyaf elements harassed Philippine and US forces but was wiped out.

 

Philippine and US forces took full control of Pansul at 1400H and confirmed that the hostage was indeed taken there. They also confirmed from captured wounded Abu Sayyaf fighters that Kumanders Black Godzilla, Green Dragon and Red Scorpion were also in the camp prior to the Philippine-US attack until they received orders to withdraw.

 

US Special Forces clear Pansul after Abu Sayyaf withdrawal

 

Philippine and US forces now focused their sights on Lumba Hill, an impenetrable Abu Sayyaf fortress, where all the top leaders and the hostage are believed gathered. The government forces would have to make it all the way to the top, secure the hostage and bring him back alive to their forward operating base at Danag and then on to Liang. They would expect stiffer resistance in the assault as the Abu Sayyaf would be expected to defend Lumba Hill at all costs.

 

At 1430H, an advance team of Philippine and US Special Forces approached Lumba Hill but was ambushed by the Abu Sayyaf at the Lumba Swamp. At 1445H, Philippine and US Special Forces units began their assault on Lumba Hill and by 1530H were able to make headway and penetrate the mountain camp from the north. The Abu Sayyaf was, however, able to push them back.

 

Philippine Navy SWAGs make their way to Lumba Hill

 

Fighting for the hill continued with both sides sustaining casualties. The Abu Sayyaf continued to hold on to the camp and do not seem to have plans to give it up.

 

US Special Force members in assault on Lumba Hill

 

At 1610H, a Philippine-US Special Forces team was able to sneak undetected into the southern perimeter of the camp and encountered one Abu Sayyaf figher as he went out to pee. The government team was spotted and a brief firefight ensued. One US soldier was hit and the Abu Sayyaf fighter was captured and interrogated. It turned out that the captured Abu Sayyaf fighter was Kumander Black Godzilla.

 

Kumander Black Godzilla being interrogated shortly after he was captured

 

Recovered from Kumander Black Godzilla were documents indicating that a higher-ranking Abu Sayyaf commander was in charge—Abu Mustafa. This caught Philippine and US forces by surprise since Abu Mustafa was not indicated in the order of battle and no intelligence files were available on him. It was learned from Kumander Black Godzilla that the plan was to turn over the hostage to Abu Mustafa in either Latih or Bonbon and will be taken from there to Basilan.

 

Acting on this new found intelligence, a team of Philippine and US Forces was dispatched to the area indicated by Kumander Black Godzilla near Bonbon. Black Godzilla was then taken by another team to the Philippine-US camp in Liang for further interrogation while fighting continued to rage at Lumba Hill.

 

Transferring Black Godzilla to Philippine-US base camp

 

At 1630H, Philippine and US Forces reached Latih and began conducting house-to-house searches but yielded negative results. It was possible that Black Godzilla gave them false information. Still the team pressed their search and began to move towards Bonbon. At 1610H, the team spotted a villager walking towards Latih. He was the same civilian seen walking in the other villages throughout the day. Taking no chances, the Philippine and US troops, held the civilian and began searching him. Recovered from him were a radio, a pistol and some documents.

 

Philippine-US forces capture suspected Abu Sayyaf leader

 

The civilian would not confirm not deny he was Abu Mustafa and absent any photograph or intelligence on who he is or how he looks like, he was taken prisoner and brought to the Philippine-US camp in Liang for processing. There, he was identified by Black Godzilla as Abu Mustafa—the Abu Sayyaf leader he has been taking orders from. The Philippine-US forces have two top-ranking Abu Sayyaf commanders in their custody.

 

Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Mustafa

 

At 1700H, the Abu Sayyaf disengaged from the fighting and abandoned their camp at Lumba Hilll under heavy rains. They still have the American hostage with them.

*Operation Sulu Storm is an airsoft scenario event based on joint Philippine and US Special Forces in the southern Philippines. While the places are real, all the events and characters portrayed in this event are purely fictional. This was held in 19 May 2007 in Strategy Plus, East Hampton, Connecticut, USA.

 

This was organised by FilForce, and which there is a part 2 in the making, OPERATION BASILAN FURY.