( CNN ) -- At least 44 people , including 23 Filipino soldiers , died Wednesday in fighting between the Philippine military and Islamic militants , the country 's armed services said on Thursday . A wounded Philippine Marine receives a medal from Major Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino in Zamboanga Thursday . The fighting was sparked by military raids on Abu Sayyaf militant training camps in the villages of Silangkum and Baguindan on the southern island province of Basilan , said Steffani Cacho , public information officer for the Philippine Armed Services . Thirty to 40 militants were killed , but only 21 bodies had been recovered , the military said . Twenty-three members of the military were killed and 22 suffered injuries . The militants used the training camps to temporarily house kidnapping victims and make explosives , Cacho said , adding that high-power firearms , explosives and documents were seized in the raids . Abu Sayyaf , which has been linked to the al Qaeda terrorist network , is one of several Islamic militant groups fighting the Philippine government . The group operates largely in Basilan , according to the U.S. State Department , and wants to establish a separate state for the country 's minority Muslim population . The government has been fighting to contain the group , which is blamed for several terrorist attacks in the Philippines , including the bombing of a ferry in 2004 that left about 130 people dead . This year Abu Sayyaf has been implicated in the kidnappings of several Red Cross workers and journalists .
Thirty to 40 militants were killed , but only 21 bodies recovered , military says . Clashes take place on the southern island province of Basilan , military says . - May 22 :