IED Kills 2 U.S. Seabees in Philippines

(Jolo Island, Southern Philippines) Early this morning on the island of Jolo, two U.S. Navy Seabees (non-combatant construction team) were killed in a roadside IED explosion while riding in a Humvee.

Military spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said one Filipino soldier was killed while two others were also wounded when the vehicle they were riding in struck an improvised landmine near Indanan town on the island of Jolo, a stronghold of Abu Sayyaf militants.

"At 8:30 a.m., September 29, there was an [improvised explosive device] attack in front of the Philippine Marines detachment which is based between Luamsing and Kagay barangays. As a result of this, two US servicemen were killed and one Philippine Marine was also killed and two other Philippine Marines [were] wounded," he told reporters.

Investigators reportedly have no leads despite the fact that al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf operates on the island. The Philippine Army is investigating the possibility that the IED was remotely detonated. Typically, IED attacks in the Philippines are infrequent and have been confined to the island of Mindanao. The IED attack on Jolo plus a January 2009 assassination attempt on the governor of Masbate Island indicate the deployment of IED tactics is widening.

Sadly, the two American Seabees were on Jolo to supervise construction of a medical clinic, an elementary school, and various other projects. They were a long way from home. Condolences to their families.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.