Foreign terrorists killed in Marawi fighting—military
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First published: 12:36 p.m., May 26, 2017
Foreign terrorists were among those killed in the ongoing gun battle in Marawi City, as the death toll increased to 46, Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippinens (AFP) said on Friday.
In a televised news briefing in Davao City, Padilla said the AFP got reports that some of those fighters killed by government troops included Malaysian and Indonesian fighters.
He said that they were checking information that six of the 31 Maute Group members killed were Malaysians, Indonesians, and one other nationality he could not immediately say.
READ: 44 gov’t troops, terrorists killed in Marawi clashes—AFP
Article continues after this advertisementPadilla said that foreign terrorists had been in the country for a long time and had been aiding the local terrorists in bomb-making.
Article continues after this advertisementLocal terrorist groups fighting the government forces had previously pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
The fighting that started from a raid to arrest Abu Sayyaf top leader Isnilon Hapilon on Tuesday afternoon has turned into an urban warfare, as they torched buildings, took over facilities, and held hostages.
READ: Hunt for Abu Sayyaf chief leads to Marawi battle
President Rodrigo Duterte also declared martial law in the entire Mindanao on that same day. The ongoing fighting has led to the evacuation of thousands of residents.
The military said 31 terrorists have been killed since the gun battle started, while 13 government forces were killed and 39 were wounded. IDL/rga