Air Delivered event in Soccsksargen, Sultan Kudarat area, Philippines on Fri 25th December 2020

On 25 December 2020, 3 to 29 suspected NPA militants were killed in an airstrike by the military on an NPA position in Barangay Namat Masla (Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, Soccsksargen). The airstrike was followed by a military ground assault with helicopter support, but there was no reported gun battle with the rebels, who reportedly scampered. The military said that it recovered weapons and other items from the blast site. The military also said that it retrieved 3 cadavers, but added that there were up to 29 fatalities, citing intelligence reports; 7 fatalities were named in some reports. The military explained that some 100-200 rebels were gathered in the area to celebrate the Communist Party of the Philippines' 52nd anniversary on 26 December.