A Malaysian, linked to terror group Islamic State (IS), is believed to have been killed after Philippine troops launched an air attack targeting insurgents in the southern Philippines.

The Associated Press reported that the bombing operation killed at least four militants, including the Malaysian. The latter’s identity has yet to be established.

The attack had also reportedly wounded the main target, the group’s leader Isnilon Hapilon, who is believed to have tried to establish a new base for an alliance backing the IS group.

Hapilon, however, managed to flee from the camp at Butig town in the southern Lanao del Sur province.

Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, however, confirmed to the AP that army troops were “still in hot pursuit”.

The airstrikes started targeting Hapilon’s group on Wednesday and Thursday, before troops, numbering in the hundreds with artillery fire began pursuing him and other militants in Butig, military chief of staff Eduardo Ano said.

Hapilon had moved to Butig from his stronghold on southern Basilian island to look for a new base for his new militant alliance.

The elusive former Abu Sayyaf commander - who is on the US Department of Justice’s list of most-wanted terrorists with a reward of up to US$5 million (RM21.16 million) for his capture - had pledged allegiance to the IS group in 2014.

Apart from this Malaysian who was killed, another Malaysian who was allegedly part of the IS group also lost his life during a battle in Syria earlier this month.

Bukit Aman counter-terrorism unit deputy director Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay had confirmed that Zainuri Kamaruddin, 50, better known as Abu Talha, were among three Malaysians killed in a bombing incident.