U.S. special forces join the battle against Islamic militants in a southern Philippines town.

Special forces advise in Mindanao clash against IS offshoot

MARAWI CITY, Philippines — U.S. special forces joined the battle to crush Islamist militants holed up in a southern Philippines town, officials said Saturday as government forces struggled to make headway and 13 marines were killed in intense urban fighting.

The Philippine military said the United States was providing technical assistance to end the siege of Marawi City by fighters allied with the Islamic State group, which is now in its third week, but it had no boots on the ground.

“They are not fighting. They are just providing technical support,” military spokesman Lt. Col. Jo-Ar Herrera said at a news conference in Marawi City.

The Pentagon, which has no permanent presence in the Philippines but for years has kept 50 to 100 special forces troops in the south of the country on rotational exercises,

By Neil Jerome Morales and Simon Lewis

confirmed that it was helping the Philippine military in Marawi.

The cooperation between the longtime allies is significant because Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who came to power a year ago, has taken a hostile stance toward Washington and has vowed to eject U.S. military trainers and advisers from his country.

The seizure of Marawi City on May 23 has alarmed Southeast Asian nations, which fear that IS, facing setbacks in Syria and Iraq, is establishing a stronghold on the Philippine island of Mindanao that could threaten the whole region.

About 40 foreigners have fought alongside the Philippine militants in Marawi City, most of them from Indonesia and Malaysia, though some came from the Middle East.

At least 200 militants are holed up in a corner of the town. An estimated 500 to 1,000 civilians are trapped there, some being held as human shields, while others are hiding in their homes with no access to running water, electricity or food.

The military said it was making headway in the town but was proceeding carefully so as not to destroy mosques where some of the militants had taken up positions.

Herrera said the military was “validating” reports that the two Maute brothers who founded the group had been killed.

Maute joined forces with Isnilon Hapilon, who was last year proclaimed by Islamic State as its Southeast Asia “emir.” Military officials believe Hapilon is still in the town.

The military has said it is aiming to end the siege by Monday, the Philippines’ independence day.

Romeo Ranoco Reuters Evacuees cook food Saturday in Lanao del Sur, Philippines. The government is battling Islamic militants on the island of Mindanao.