Philippines: Intense firefight in Marawi Oct. 22 /update 6

Event

An intense firefight between the military and Islamic State (IS)-affiliated militants broke out in Marawi City on Sunday, October 22. Some 30 IS-affiliated militants are believed to be fighting to defend their last stronghold in the city. According to a military announcement, the group is now limited to one building from which an unknown number of hostages have been successfully extracted. The operation is hoped to end by midnight.

Context

Fighting has been ongoing in Marawi since May, following a botched government raid on a hideout sheltering IS-affiliate Isnilon Hapilon. Around 1000 people, including at least 842 militants, 167 security personnel, and 57 civilians, have died in the subsequent fighting. An estimated 600,000 people have been displaced from the city.

On October 17, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte prematurely declared that Marawi had been liberated from terrorists. The announcement came two days after security officials reported that two senior militant leaders had been killed in fighting in the city. It was also reported that Hapilon and Omarkhayan Maute, who have both been tied to the IS-affiliated Abu Sayyaf militant group, were killed in targeted operations overnight October 14-15.

Martial law went into effect throughout Mindanao Island, where Marawi City is located, and is currently set to remain in place until December 31.

Advice

Individuals are advised to continue to avoid the region surrounding Marawi, monitor the situation, and obey all instructions issued by the local authorities.

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