Philippine troops did not immediately recover bodies from the dawn strike targeting a militant stronghold on a southern Philippine island, but military spokesman Col. Marcelo Burgos said the dead included Malaysian Zulkifi bin Hir, also known as Marwan, a top leader of the regional al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah terror network…

The U.S. had offered a $5 million reward for the capture of Marwan, accused of involvement in a number of deadly bombings in the Philippines and in the training of new militants…

Marwan’s death also would be a huge blow to the Abu Sayyaf’s ability to recover from years of battle setbacks through fundraising and training of new militants.

During Thursday’s attack, the Philippine air force dropped four bombs weighing 500 pounds each from two bomber planes, said Maj. Gen. Jose Villarete, head of the 3rd Air Division based at an air force base in Zamboanga city.