At least 10 militants belonging to a Daesh-linked rebel group died in clashes with the Philippine army, military sources said on Friday.
Four soldiers also lost their lives in the violence which broke out in the troubled Sulu province of the Muslim south, officials said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFPs) Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) confirmed nine more troops were injured in heavy fighting at Sitio Dyundangan in Barangay Buhanginan, Patikul town at 10:20 a.m. local time (0220GMT).
The Abu Sayyaf rebels also suffered an unconfirmed number of casualties, according to a statement from Major Filemon Tan Jr., a WesMinCom spokesman.