Isil leader in the Philippines killed in battle, tests confirm

DNA tests have confirmed the death in the Philippines of a key figure in Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil), who led an Islamist siege of the city of Marawi in 2017.

Owaida Marohombsar, also known by his nom de guerre Abu Dar, was killed in battle on March 14, according to tests on remains carried out by the US.

He was one of four terrorists killed during the fierce gunfight near the southern town of Tubaran, in Lanao del Sur province.

Eduardo Año, the Filipino interior minister, said it was a “milestone” in the campaign to “finish and defeat” Isil and other local terror groups.

“For now, his group is leaderless. We are monitoring who will replace Dar,” added Delfin Lorenzana, the defence secretary, at a press conference.

Marohombsar helped to lead the siege of Marawi in 2017, a five-month battle between government troops and militants that left more than 1,100 people dead and destroyed the city’s commercial and residential districts.

Most of the leaders of the attack were killed, but Marohombsar survived with a large amount of looted money and jewellery that authorities feared he could use to rebuild his battered organisation and plot new attacks.

Rodrigo Duterte, the president, placed the south of the country under martial law to help eradicate Isil forces who had survived the siege and hunt down their allied groups, such as Abu Sayyaf in Sulu province.

Marohombsar’s death is likely to strengthen the control of Hajan Sawadjaan, the Abu Sayyaf leader, over a number of armed groups linked to Isil.