Thirty US Special Forces troops flew into the Abu Sayyaf stronghold of Basilan island aboard giant military helicopters today to begin anti-terror training with Filipino soldiers.
Four black Chinook transport helicopters landed at this southern Philippine army base from nearby Zamboanga city just before noon (04:00 a.m. Irish time), kicking up a cloud of dust that carpeted the entire base.
US troops clad in jungle camouflage and armed with assault rifles ran crouching toward the edge of the helipad to escape the downdraft, while at least two Simba armoured personnel carriers guarded the perimeter.
The 30 commandos make up the first batch of some 160 Special Forces "trainers" to be deployed to Basilan within a month's time. Their arrival today raised the total of US soldiers now here to 51.
The Special Forces troops are part of the 660 US soldiers joining a six-month military training program aimed at helping the Philippines military crush the Abu Sayyaf, a group of ruthless kidnappers linked by Manila and Washington to the al-Qaeda terror network.
The US deployment in the southern Philippines is the largest on foreign soil since Afghanistan, officials said.
The Abu Sayyaf is also holding three hostages, including US Christian missionary couple Mr Martin and Mrs Gracia Burnham, seized in a kidnapping spree last year.
They have already beheaded 14 hostages, including a third American.
"We are very honoured and proud to be here," said Colonel David Maxwell, a US Special Forces batallion commander.
"This is an opportunity for us to work together with our Philippine brothers-inarms, to train together, to learn from each other and we expect that we'll have a very successful exercise."
The US Special Forces will join their counterparts in training sites in the towns of Maluso and Lamitan.
The Abu Sayyaf last year were cornered inside a government hospital in Lamitan but managed to escape, embarrassing the military amid allegations they colluded with the rebels in exchange for a share of ransom money.
The allegations led to a congressional inquiry, although President Gloria Arroyo gave her full support to the military brass.
Officials said the American soldiers would be joining patrols in Basilan towards the end of the six-month program, but only as observers. They are however allowed to defend themselves if attacked.
Asked what they would do in cases of attack, Colonel Maxwell said: "We always take all means necessary to defend ourselves."
The arrival of the US troops here came a day after bomb blasts blamed on the Abu Sayyaf and those opposing the exercises left at least three people dead and 56 others wounded in nearby Jolo island and Zamboanga city.
AFP