Military officials in the southern Philippines say suspected Abu Sayyaf militants have ambushed a convoy of troops, killing nine soldiers and injuring two others.
Authorities say the attack happened early Thursday near the town of Maimbung, on the southern island of Jolo.
The United States considers Abu Sayyaf a terrorist group with ties to the radical Jemaah Islamiyah organization. Philippine forces have been on the offensive against Abu Sayyaf since 2005, fighting primarily on the island of Jolo.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
