An explosion at a military base in the restive southern Philippines on Friday killed five people, including three soldiers, and wounded nine others in what Daesh terror organization said was an attack by its suicide bombers.
The military said the blast occurred at around noon at a base on Jolo island, a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf, a splintered network notorious for kidnapping and piracy and for its pledge of allegiance to the terror organization.
Daesh terror organization said via its Amaq news agency that they had infiltrated the base strapped with explosives and killed or wounded 100 soldiers. It posted an image of two young men standing beside a black Daesh terror flag, wearing what appeared to be vests designed to hold explosives.
Neither the claim nor the authenticity of the photograph could be immediately verified.
The army vowed an investigation and to respond "with formidable resolve".
"Ground troops continue to establish the circumstances and identify the perpetrators behind this inhumane attack," said Cirilito Sobejana, chief of the Western Mindanao Command. "We will intensify our offensives to crush terrorist groups."
