US military helicopters clash with Abu Sayyaf rebels in Philippines

Two US Pave Hawk helicopters exchanged fire with a band of suspected Abu Sayyaf Muslim guerrillas in the southern Philippine island of Basilan, local military officials said.
There were no reports of any casualties on the side of the American soldiers who were flying supplies into Basilan when the incident occurred late Monday, local military commander Colonel Alexander Aleo said.
It was the first incident of direct combat between the US troops in Basilan and suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim armed group believed linked to the al-Qaeda terror network of Osama bin Laden, suspected mastermind of the September 11 attacks in the United States.
Military reports said about 10 gunmen believed to be Abu Sayyaf members opened fire on the HH-60 helicopters as they were flying over the town of Tuburan, prompting the US troops aboard to return fire with the helicopters' machineguns.