US special forces moved deeper into the remote jungle-clad hills of a southern Philippine island today to join local troops in the stronghold of Muslim guerrillas linked to Osama bin Laden.
Some of about 80 special forces deployed on the island of Basilan left the Tagbiawan military base for the rebel-infested interior in armoured personnel carriers, trucks and pick-ups along with Philippine scout rangers and marines.
Officials said they would spread out over various Philippine military detachments on the island, with not more than two or three at any one post.
There were no sightings of the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas, who Washington has linked to bin Laden and who have been holding an American missionary couple and a local nurse hostage on Basilan for almost nine months.
Around 6,000 Philippine troops are on Basilan and 160 US special forces will be there until June to train them. Another 500 US support personnel will be in the nearby city of Zamboanga and in the central city of Cebu.
It is the biggest expansion of Washington's war on terror after the campaign in Afghanistan. Yesterday, President George W. Bush said the Philippines was one of the countries where the United States would maintain a forward presence.
Also yesterday, the US forces tested their night vision capabilities, landing at Tagbiawan by Chinook MH-47 helicopters at dead of night and bedding down on the landing strip until the morning.
Lights at the camp were turned off and photographers there were asked not use their flashes as that would have affected the night vision equipment.
The Philippine military has said the lack of night vision equipment has been a major drawback in their fight against the guerrillas.