Islamic State claims Philippines attack that killed 23
CAIRO - Islamic State has claimed responsibility for clashes between militants linked to the group and Philippine soldiers this week that led to the death of 23 people.
"With the grace of god we were able to detonate seven trucks carrying soldiers," an Islamic State statement said.
The attack led to the death of three of its own militants, the statement added.
Philippine soldiers battled a group of about 120 Muslim rebels in a ten-hour assault on a southern island.
The army said the military had attacked a stronghold of rebels linked to Islamic State on the island of Basilan led by an insurgent for whom the US State Department has offered a bounty of up to $5 million.
