MANILA — Philippine special forces on Monday rescued a 70-year-old British national and a Filipino woman nearly two months after they were kidnapped by gunmen in the southern Philippines, the military said.

The soldiers rescued Allan Arthur Hyrons and Welma Paglinawan-Hyrons, a married couple, after they were abandoned by their captors early Monday after days of clashes on the southwestern Philippine island of Jolo.

“This morning there was a 10-minute gun battle and the two were left behind by their captors,” said Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, the regional military commander.

“They scampered away to different directions but we are pursuing them,” the general said of the kidnappers.