10 pro-IS militants slain sneaking into Marawi city
MARAWI, Philippines: Ten suspected militants were killed in the Philippines yesterday as they attempted to infiltrate a southern city partly occupied by gunmen loyal to the Islamic State group, officials said.
Government forces have been besieging the militants in the city of Marawi for almost 100 days.
But the gunmen, flying the IS black flag, have defied military assaults including airstrikes and artillery barrages.
Before dawn yesterday 10 militants aboard two motorboats were caught by soldiers trying to sneak into the lakeside city to reinforce gunmen already there, said regional military chief Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez.
The bodies of five dead men were recovered from one motorboat while the other boat, with five aboard, was sunk, Galvez said.
“Let this be a warning to those who have the intention to escape and to enter ( Marawi), our troops are ready for you. We will definitely get you,” he added.
Troops have previously intercepted dozens of “reinforcements” and ammunition being brought into the city to help the militants.
The military says that so far, 603 militants, 45 civilians and 130 soldiers have been killed in the fighting, which has left the oncethriving city of Marawi looking like war-torn Aleppo or Mosul.
It says the gunmen, led by the so- called Maute group that has pledged allegiance to IS, have recently been driven out of strategic areas like the city’s main mosque and a cathedral, and been reduced to a small band occupying less than a square kilometre of the city. But their use of improvised explosives and booby traps as well as the difficulty of urban combat has slowed down the military’s progress.
Military chief General Eduardo Ano said yesterday the remaining militants were “consolidating” and preparing for the military’s assault.