In Mindanao continues the assault of Marawi. Pulling additional reinforcements, including a large number of armored vehicles, in recent days the army and police have made significant progress, freed from the militants of the Caliphate part of the city.
In the city, fighting continued. The army can’t crush the resistance fighters.
For the week, according to official figures in the city killed 89 rebels. The city continues to gather strength of the regular army (for the last 3 days to the city deployed 150 units of various equipment and several thousand soldiers, in addition to the operations involved 8-10 helicopters and a few planes) , which gradually tighten the ring around the main forces of the militants entrenched in a dense residential area. Army during the same period, lost about 70-80 people. About 2,000 residents of Marawi are still virtually held hostage by the militants.
Despite reports to the contrary, at least half of the city remains under ISIS control, including all neighborhoods in downtown Marawi, the port in southern marawi along with the Mapandi and Bayabao bridges.
Briefly about the situation in Marawi, captured by the Philippine branch of the Caliphate. Fighting in the city are already the 6th day, the army, even with reinforcements, cannot completely suppress the DAESH fighters despite the airstrikes and the use of armored vehicles. The Philippine army continues to urgently increase the grouping in Mindanao. Along the way, Duterte turned to the rebels, the Maoists, who does not recognize the government in Manila, asking the Maoists to the fight against the Caliphate. What was said by the followers of Mao Zedong – not reported. So Duterte demanded from the military to intensify air strikes against militants.
The Philippine Army still controls most army bases and government buildings inside Marawi and has set up checkpoints on its outskirts although ISIS controls most of the residential areas. For instance, the main hospital in the city remains under siege. Marawi is home to over 200,000 residents and is roughly the size of Raqqa in comparison.
