In
pictures: ISIS takes control of its first city in the Philippines
AMN,
23
May, 2017
DAMASCUS,
SYRIA (8:30 P.M.) – Overnight, heavy clashes erupted in the
predominately Sunni city of Marawi in the southern Philippines after
security forces and ISIS sleeper cells battled it out for hours on
end.
2
soldiers and 1 police officer were killed in the skirmishes although
no civilians were injured by crossfire, a military source told
Al-Masdar News.
Subsequently,
the Philippine Army withdrew from most of the city on Tuesday
morning, thereby making it the first city in southeast Asia to come
under Islamic State control.
Some
500 ISIS insurgents are said to be present in Marawi. These heavily
armed jihadist fighters have taken control of the city center and set
up roadblocks in several districts.
In
addition, ISIS members have captured the main prison in Marawi and
released over a hundred prisoners, many of whom are caliphate
sympathisers and may join its ranks.
Dozens
of military vehicles and weapons were also captured during the battle
although no official confirmation on the events have been issued by
Amaq Agency yet.
Pictures
of ISIS fighters raising the notorious black flag in downtown Marawi:
Chris
Tomson |
Al-Masdar News
Chris
Tomson |
Al-Masdar News
Chris
Tomson |
Al-Masdar News
Chris
Tomson |
Al-Masdar News
Chris
Tomson |
Al-Masdar News
In response, Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao province while the provincial mayor called on the army to send reinforcements which are expected to arrive tomorrow for a coming counter-assault.
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.
Rodrigo
Duterte is currently in Moscow, visiting Vladimir Putin.
Amaq
Agency recently released a series of images depicting
an ISIS training camp at
an undisclosed location in southeast Asia, likely near the newly
captured Marawi city.
UPDATE:
Amaq Agency has now confirmed the ISIS assault. Heavy clashes
continue overnight on Wednesday as the Philippine Army tries to
retake its lost areas.
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