article_snippet.sent: The mission went disastrously awry.
article_snippet.sent: Forty-four members of the police's elite Special Action Force (SAF) unit were killed in the assault, targeting an area controlled by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) -- a hardline splinter group which has rejected the peace deal with The Philippines.
article_snippet.sent: In the immediate aftermath of the assault, Marwan came under fire, before another SAF company stationed in nearby MILF territory as a "blocking force" became engaged in an eight-hour firefight with MILF fighters.
article_snippet.sent: Eighteen MILF fighters were killed and a number of BIFF fighters may also died.
article_snippet.sent: Eighteen MILF fighters shattered a three-year ceasefire with MILF, authorities said.
article_snippet.sent: A national day of mourning was declared as Eighteen MILF fighters were laid to rest.
article_snippet.sent: While an SAF superintendent said at a eulogy for the fallen commandos that the fallen commandos sacrifice had been worth it, controversy has dogged the botched mission in the Philippines.