Philippines: Marawi and Iligan on lockdown amid IS siege /update 4

Event

At least 19 civilians were killed over the weekend, May 27-28, in continuing clashes between Philippine armed forces and militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) in Marawi City. More than 2000 civilians were trapped in the city as of Sunday, May 28, with IS refusing to surrender and thus holding the city captive. On May 29, the city of Iligan was overflowing with evacuees and was on lockdown over fears IS militants had infiltrated the area. The official death toll from almost a week of fighting nears 100, including 60 IS militants.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law throughout the island of Mindanao, where Marawi is located, on May 23 for 60 days due to the siege. On May 28, he threatened to bypass the Constitutional Court and impose martial law in the whole country. Checkpoints at all entry and exit points of Marawi City remain in place and military units have been deployed around Mindanao (including the city of Davao) out of fears of retaliatory attacks.

Context

An estimated 100 IS-affiliated militants entered Marawi City on Tuesday, May 23, following a botched raid carried out by security forces on a hideout of the commander of the Abu Sayyaf militant group, Isnilon Hapilon. Hapilon is wanted by the United States for carrying out terrorist attacks targeting US citizens in the Philippines. He is also suspected of attempting to unite Philippine militant groups that have pledged allegiance to IS.

Militants reportedly beheaded a police chief, burned multiple buildings, and seized a Christian priest and his worshipers to use as human shields before raising the black IS flag over the city; IS released a statement through its Amaq News propaganda outlet, confirming that its fighters are involved in the clashes. On May 25, the Philippine army reportedly launched air strikes in Marawi City. According to a military spokesman, the "surgical air strikes" were intended to flush out the roughly 40 militants still believed to be in the city. Residents in those areas were warned to leave before the strikes, although a majority of the city's 200,000 residents had already fled. Soldiers, with the support of tanks, have reportedly worked to clear three villages in the area, where militants were suspected to be hiding.

Abu Sayyaf is known for kidnapping people for ransom in southwest Mindanao (especially in Zamboanga province) and in the Sulu Archipelago (Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, and Basilan provinces).

Advice

Individuals in Marawi City and Iligan City are advised to remain indoors, to monitor the situation, and to obey all instructions issued by the local authorities.

As a reminder, most Western governments formally advise against all travel to southwest Mindanao and to the Sulu Archipelago because of terrorist activity, regular clashes between the military and insurgent groups, and the risk of kidnapping by Abu Sayyaf.