Philippines: Air strikes target militants in Marawi May 25 /update 3

Event

On Thursday, May 25, the Philippine army reportedly launched air strikes in Marawi City against militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) who have taken embedded positions after entering the city on Tuesday. According to a military spokesman, the "surgical air strikes" were intended to flush out roughly 40 militant believed to be hiding in the city. Residents who remained in those areas were warned to leave before the strikes, although a majority of the city's 200,000 residents have already fled. Soldiers, with the support of tanks, have reportedly worked to clear three villages in the area where the militants are suspected to be hiding. Checkpoints at all entry and exit points of the city remain in place and military units have been deployed around Mindanao (including the city of Davao) out of fear of retaliatory attacks. Avoid the area.

Local media sources have reported that six to eight soldiers were killed during operations in Marawi on Thursday, bringing the total number of soldiers, police, and civilians killed to at least 22: five soldiers and two police officers were killed Tuesday and at least nine civilians were killed Wednesday. The military reported that at least 13 fighters had been killed on Wednesday.

Context

An estimated 100 IS-affiliated militants entered the city on Tuesday, May 23, after a botched raid on a hideout of Isnilon Hapilon, a commander of the Abu Sayyaf militant group. 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. President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao for 60 days due to the siege.

Hapilon is wanted by the United States for carrying out terrorist attacks targeting US citizens. He is also suspected of attempting to unite the Filipino militant groups that have pledged allegiance to IS.

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). Sailors and foreigners are regularly abducted in the Sulu Sea. The Philippine military confirmed on February 27 that Abu Sayyaf had beheaded a German hostage after the deadline for the payment of his ransom had passed. The killing reportedly took place in Indanan on Sulu Archipelago. In late April 2016, Abu Sayyaf executed a Canadian hostage who was captured in September 2015 on Jolo Island and beheaded two Canadian hostages in mid-June 2016 after failing to receive a ransom for their release. Nearly 30 people are still being held hostage by Abu Sayyaf, including Indonesian, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Filipino, Japanese, Canadian, and Dutch citizens.

Advice

Individuals in Marawi 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.