Operation Audacity ( Filipino: ''Oplan Pagpangahas'') was a

military operation A military operation (op) is the coordinated military actions of a state, or a non-state actor, in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state or actor's favor. Operati ...

during the 2000 Philippine campaign against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which took place in

Cotabato Cotabato, formerly and still commonly referred to as North Cotabato and officially the Province of Cotabato, is a landlocked Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Soccsksargen Regions of the Philippines, regi ...

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

. The

Philippine Army The Philippine Army (PA) () is the main, oldest and largest branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), responsible for ground warfare. , it had an estimated strength of 143,100 soldiers The service branch was established on December ...

, primarily units of its

6th Infantry Division 6th Division may refer to: Infantry divisions *6th Division (Australia) * 6th Division (Austria) *6th (United Kingdom) Division *Finnish 6th Division (Winter War) *Finnish 6th Division (Continuation War) *6th Division (Reichswehr) *6th Division ( ...

, assaulted and cleared

Moro Islamic Liberation Front The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF; ) is an Islamist group based in Mindanao, Philippines, which sought an autonomous region of the Moro people from the central government. The group has a presence in the Bangsamoro region of Mindanao, t ...

forces from the

Carmen ''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first performed by the O ...

Banisilan Banisilan, officially the Municipality of Banisilan (Maguindanao language, Maguindanaon: ''Inged nu Banisilan'', Jawi Alphabet, Jawi: ايڠايد نو بنيسيلن; Iranun language, Iranun: ''Inged a Banisilan'', ايڠايد ا بنيسيلن ...

area of

Plan

Three

task group A task force (TF) is a unit or formation established to work on a single defined task or activity. Originally introduced by the United States Navy, the term has now caught on for general usage and is a standard part of NATO terminology. Many ...

s were organized for the operation. The 602nd Infantry Brigade formed the core of the first (TG "A"), while the 603rd Infantry Brigade did the same for the second (TG "B"). The third was a reserve force (TG "C"). The

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

was supported by

artillery Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch Ammunition, munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and l ...

and Philippine Air Force units under 6th Infantry Division control.

Battle

TG "A" moved northwest toward the Maladugao River and clashed with the MILF forces east of the river. TG "B" moved north towards the eastern slopes of Mt. Table, occupying the high ground. TG "C" secured their areas of operation and prevented the conflict from spreading to neighboring municipalities. Philippine Air Force's Composite Tactical Group 12 provided air support,

medical evacuation Medical evacuation, often shortened to medevac or medivac, is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to patients requiring evacuation or transport using medically equipped air ambulances, helicopters and ...

, resupply and troop insertion missions.

Aftermath

The government forces achieved all their mission objectives. Casualties were light on both sides with two government troopers dead and five MILF killed.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Audacity, Operation Military operations of the Moro conflict March 2000 in the Philippines 2000 in the Philippines Presidency of Joseph Estrada History of Cotabato 21st century in Soccsksargen Conflicts in 2000

Plan

Battle

Aftermath

See also

References