Philippines pounds militants in Marawi

MARAWI: Philippine troops pounded militants holding parts of southern Marawi city with airstrikes and artillery, as more soldiers were deployed and the death toll rose to more than 300 after nearly a month of fighting.

Fires erupted and dark plumes of smoke rose from enclaves still occupied by the militants as the air force staged bombing runs yesterday to support ground troops struggling to dislodge the fighters from entrenched positions, AFP journalists at the scene said.

MG520 attack helicopters and FA50 fighter jets were used in the raids, while sustained bursts of automatic gunfire could be heard in the distance, indicating the intensity of the fighting.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, appearing in public for the first time in nearly a week, said the presence of foreign fighters from the Islamic State (IS) group among the militants in Marawi had made the fighting more difficult.

“You have a conglomeration there of IS fighters from Syria, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, as well as Arabs,” he told soldiers during a visit to a military camp in Butuan city, northeast of Marawi, in the southern region of Mindanao.

“We have to use the air assets because we are up against fighters from the Middle East and they have learned the art of brutal killing – they will burn you, behead you,” he said.

Duterte’s absence had fuelled speculation about the state of the 72-year-old leader’s health.

Also yesterday, 400 fresh troops were airlifted to Marawi from the central Philippines, ANC television said quoting military officials.

Television footage showed the soldiers bidding goodbye to their families before being flown to the conflict zone.