Mindanao: Air raids target fighters holed up in Marawi

Fighters besieging southern city targeted as
ongoing clashes leave six soldiers dead and
trigger flight of residents.

The Philippine army has launched air raids against ISIL-linked

fighters who are hiding in a southern city they attacked earlier

this week.

The siege of Marawi has sent thousands of people fleeing

and prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial

law in Mindanao region.

The "surgical air strikes" were aimed to flush out up to 40

fighters believed to be hiding in Marawi, Lieutenant-Colonel

Jo-ar Herrera, a military spokesperson, said on Thursday.

A majority of the 200,000 residents have fled Marawi, about

800km south of the capital, Manila, but Herrera said those

who remained had been warned to get out of the areas where

there was bombing and fighting.

"We have identified targets that we need to clear," he said.

"We need to neutralise the remnants of the local terrorist

groups."

But the Philippine military has also suffered some setbacks,
with local news media reporting that between six to eight
soldiers died on Thursday alone.

That is in addition to the five soldiers and two police 
officers killed when the fighting started on Tuesday.

At least nine civilians were also reported killed on
Wednesday.

The violence erupted on Tuesday after the army raided
 the hideout of Isnilon Hapilon, a commander of the Abu
Sayyaf group, which has pledged allegiance to ISIL, or the
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group.

Abu Sayyaf called for reinforcements from an allied group,
 the Maute, and dozens of fighters managed to enter Marawi and sweep through its streets.


Church targeted

The fighters reportedly burned a Catholic church, the 
city jail, and two schools, as well as occupied the main
 streets and two bridges leading to Marawi.

Religious leaders have accused the fighters of taking a
Catholic priest and his worshippers hostage and using
 them as human shields.

On Wednesday the military said they had killed at least
 13 fighters.

Duterte submitted to Congress on Thursday the 
proclamation of martial law for review as required by the constitution.

The Philippine House of Representatives and the Senate
 were scheduled to convene on Monday to assess the declaration.

Majul Gandamra, the mayor of Marawi, said many
establishments were closed, making it difficult for those 
who are still in the municipality to purchase supplies.

"It's getting difficult for people to get their basic needs,
 like water and food," Gandamra told a Manila radio station.
"Our top priority is to give food, water and temporary shelter
to residents.

"We are looking for an evacuation centre where there is no

presence of the ISIL-related militants."

Soldiers, supported by tanks, moved through streets and
houses as they scoured three villages in the area where the
gunmen were reported to be moving around.

Checkpoints were established at entry and exit points of
Marawi, while helicopters hovered over the city and more
soldiers arrived in trucks to secure the municipality.

The military has placed units in different parts of Mindanao
under high alert, including the city of Davao, Duterte's home
town, where local authorities fear the fighters could
 attempt to stage retaliatory attacks.