Manila, Rabi'I 12, 1438, December 11, 2016, SPA -- Three soldiers are dead and 17 wounded after a firefight with suspected militants in the southern Philippines, a military spokesman said Sunday, according to dpa. The clash erupted as troops launched an offensive against about 150 militants on Saturday in the town of Patikul on the island of Jolo, said Major Filemon Tan. The military conducted airstrikes to support the ground troops during the clash, he added. --SPA 13:38 LOCAL TIME 10:38 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w287826