U.S. Troops to Fight Philippine Terrorists

W A S H I N G T O N, Feb. 20 -- For the first time, U.S. troops will be going into the field to fight Islamic insurgents who want to carve their own state out of the Philippines, military authorities said today.

At least 750 U.S. soldiers will be working with the Philippine military on the new mission, which expands on previous operations that had been limited to training the island nation's forces and improving infrastructure. This time, the U.S. forces will be allowed to participate actively in combat operations.

The military said 400 U.S. soldiers will be stationed on the island of Zamboanga, and 350 special operations forces will be deployed in the Sulu archipelago.

Eventually, a Marine Corps task force waiting offshore will be able to provide an additional 1,500 troops if needed.

Officials say the first troops could start moving in days. Operations could begin as early as next month.

Target: Beheaders

The primary target of the operation is Abu Sayyaf, a separatist Muslim group known to have ties to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.

The group is notorious for kidnapping and beheading people. It was responsible for abducting American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham in May 2001, along with California tourist Guillermo Sobero and 17 Filipinos. Sobero was beheaded, and Martin Burnham died in a rescue attempt that saved his wife last June.

Pentagon officials say hundreds of Abu Sayyaf rebels have been killed, detained or fled the country since the United States began the training operation in February a year ago.