Malaysian police attend to the body of a Filipino gunman who was shot dead in a shootout in Simunul village in Semporna, Sabab, Malaysia, March 4, 2013. AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The latest offensive by Malaysian security forces on the “Royal Army” of the Sultanate of Sulu in Lahad Datu has been declared over with the group being “totally routed,” Malaysian media reported Tuesday.
According to Malaysia’s The Star, the entire east coast of Sabah was said to be under control by police and military forces as of 11:54 a.m.
The around 200 supporters of the Sultanate of Sulu were “totally routed by Malaysian security forces’ overwhelming firepower,” it said.
Airstrikes from jets and artillery fire were reported in the village as military trucks made their way into the village, Malaysian media reported.
No casualties were reported from the side of the Malaysian forces, police sources were quoted as saying.
The offensive of Malaysian security forces began around 7 a.m. Tuesday, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak confirmed.
The “Royal army” of the Sultanate of Sulu has been encamped in Lahad Datu for at least three weeks in an attempt to reclaim what it says is their rightful territory.