Eight wounded in militant ambush on military convoy in Basilan

Six members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and two civilians were wounded in an ambush targeting a military convoy in Lamitan City, Basilan province, on Thursday night. The attack occurred at approximately 6:55 p.m. in Barangay Sabong when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a vehicle carrying troops from the Army's 45th Infantry Battalion who were returning to their unit.

Among the wounded civilians was a 10-year-old child, according to military reports from the incident scene. The nature and severity of the injuries sustained by the victims were not immediately disclosed. Response teams were quickly mobilized to provide medical assistance to those affected.

Investigations into the attack are ongoing to determine the identity of the assailants and their possible motivations. Basilan province, located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Mindanao, has long been a flashpoint for security operations targeting militant groups and criminal organizations. Military officials have not attributed the ambush to any specific armed group at this stage.

The incident underscores persistent security challenges in the region despite ongoing government counterinsurgency and peace-building initiatives. Local authorities have increased patrols and heightened security measures in the aftermath of the attack.