The Philippine military says that the three senior militants from al-Qaeda-linked group killed in a raid in the southern part of the country.
The air attack took place Thursday in an area known as a militant stronghold.
Officials said that two Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leaders and a leader of Abu Sayyaf, were among a total of 15 people killed.
Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir or Marwan, who on Most Wanted list of the FBI with a $ 5m (£ 3.2m) bounty for his capture, was reported killed.
The army was killed militants in the town of Parang in Jolo island, Sulu province in Mindanao region.
The regional military commander Maj. Gen. Noel Coballes told news agency Agence France Presse that the troops on the ground had been confirmed dead.
Marwan, a top JI leader, is said to be behind a series of bombings in southern Philippines since 2006.
The military of the two other senior militants identified as Jemaah Islamiyah leader Abdullah Ali, or Ali Mauwiya Muhamda aliases, and a leader of Abu Sayyaf, Abu Gumbahali Jumdail aka Doc.
According to the FBI, is Marwan "an engineer trained in the U.S." and conducted bomb-making activities of militant groups, including Abu Sayyaf.
Muawiya, a top JI leader, is said to be one of Singaporean national who came to the Philippines after the Bali bombings in 2002. A reward of $ 50,000 was offered for his capture.
JI has ties to al-Qaeda and has a long track record of attacks in Indonesia. It is believed to be behind the Bali bombings in 2002.
Doc Abu, a Filipino, is said to be a regional leader Abu Sayyaf wanted for several kidnappings. Abu Sayyaf is one of the most radical of the Islamic separatist groups in the southern Philippines.
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A military spokesman told the BBC that the operation ordered after reports that a group of militants had arrived in the area on 30 December.
Islands in the southwestern Philippines is known for hosting various militant groups - some as kidnappings for ransom gangs operate, says the BBC's Kate McGeown.
Only this week, the Abu Sayyaf is believed to have kidnapped two European tourists in the area.
The air attack took place Thursday in an area known as a militant stronghold.
Officials said that two Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leaders and a leader of Abu Sayyaf, were among a total of 15 people killed.
Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir or Marwan, who on Most Wanted list of the FBI with a $ 5m (£ 3.2m) bounty for his capture, was reported killed.
The army was killed militants in the town of Parang in Jolo island, Sulu province in Mindanao region.
The regional military commander Maj. Gen. Noel Coballes told news agency Agence France Presse that the troops on the ground had been confirmed dead.
Marwan, a top JI leader, is said to be behind a series of bombings in southern Philippines since 2006.
The military of the two other senior militants identified as Jemaah Islamiyah leader Abdullah Ali, or Ali Mauwiya Muhamda aliases, and a leader of Abu Sayyaf, Abu Gumbahali Jumdail aka Doc.
According to the FBI, is Marwan "an engineer trained in the U.S." and conducted bomb-making activities of militant groups, including Abu Sayyaf.
Muawiya, a top JI leader, is said to be one of Singaporean national who came to the Philippines after the Bali bombings in 2002. A reward of $ 50,000 was offered for his capture.
JI has ties to al-Qaeda and has a long track record of attacks in Indonesia. It is believed to be behind the Bali bombings in 2002.
Doc Abu, a Filipino, is said to be a regional leader Abu Sayyaf wanted for several kidnappings. Abu Sayyaf is one of the most radical of the Islamic separatist groups in the southern Philippines.
Map
A military spokesman told the BBC that the operation ordered after reports that a group of militants had arrived in the area on 30 December.
Islands in the southwestern Philippines is known for hosting various militant groups - some as kidnappings for ransom gangs operate, says the BBC's Kate McGeown.
Only this week, the Abu Sayyaf is believed to have kidnapped two European tourists in the area.
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