May 26 (UPI) — Fighting continued for a third day in a city partially overtaken by Islamic militants in the southern Philippines after the nation’s president declared martial law in the region.
A group of militants who pledged their allegiance to the Islamic State have taken hold of the southern Filipino city of Marawi, where a botched government raid on Tuesday to capture a leader of the group led to open fighting between the militants and government soldiers. As the situation deteriorated, militants began seizing buildings as civilians fled the violence.
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law on Tuesday over the southern portion of the country, which includes Marawi, in response to the violence. By Thursday, government helicopters assisted ground troops in clearing the rebel-held areas of the city.
The militants took hold of a Catholic church and were holding about a dozen people hostage. They also apparently had set about 100 inmates at two prisons free.
The government said 13 militants had been killed, though the group’s leader, Isnilon Hapilon, is not believed to be among them. An estimated 30 to 40 more rebel fighters remain the subject of raids throughout the city.
The government said five soldiers have been killed, and officials are investigating reports of civilian casualties. Military leaders said they are using “surgical” air strikes to minimize damage and potential civilian deaths while fighting the militants.
