Philippines launches anti-terror attack

Troops descend on city held by rebel group

MARAWI, PHILIPPINES • Backed by tanks and rocketfiring helicopters, Philippine troops launched “precision attacks” Thursday to clear extremists linked to the Islamic State group from a city that has been under siege since a raid that failed to capture one of Asia’s most-wanted militants.

Rebels have torn through the streets of Marawi since Tuesday night, torching buildings, taking a priest and his worshippers hostage and sealing off much of the city. The violence forced thousands to flee and raised fears of growing extremism in the country.

At least 44 people have died in the fighting, including 31 militants and 11 soldiers, officials said. President Rodrigo Duterte said a local police chief was stopped at a militant checkpoint and beheaded, and another policeman was also reportedly killed. It was not immediately clear whether civilians were among the dead.

“At night we can hear the gunfire,” said Mohammad Usman, who watched from his home just outside Marawi as thousands of residents streamed out of the city. “I’m just praying that the bullets will not find their way to my house and hit us. I hope that the bombs will not land nearby and harm us.”

Duterte imposed 60 days of martial law Tuesday on the island of Mindanao, which encompasses the southern third of the nation and is home to 22 million people. Marawi has a population of around 200,000.

Duterte warned he may expand martial law nationwide, an unnerving development for many in the Philippines who lived through the rule of Ferdinand Marcos. Marcos declared martial law in 1972 and used it to maintain his grip on power for more than a decade.

The man at the centre of the Marawi violence is Isnilon Hapilon, an Arabicspeaking Islamic preacher known for his expertise in commando assaults. He is at the nexus of several militant groups that are trying to merge into a more powerful force. Hapilon, who is a commander of the Abu Sayyaf militant group, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in 2014. He also heads an alliance that includes at least 10 smaller militant groups, including the Maute, which have a heavy presence in Marawi.

All these groups are inspired by ISIL, but so far there is no sign of significant, material ties.

“We have not seen any concrete evidence of material support from IS,” military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said Thursday. But he added that the smaller groups “are working to really get that recognition and funds, of course.”

Washington has offered a US$5-million reward for information leading to Hapilon’s capture, but he has proved elusive.

TED ALJIBE / AFP / GETTY IMAGES An armoured personnel carrier moves between vehicles of residents fleeing Marawi City as fighting raged between government forces and gunmen who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.