US SPECIAL FORCES JOIN PHILIPPINE ARMY IN ANTI-ISIS OPERATIONS IN MARAWI

Using their V-300 Commando Fire Support Vehicle, the Philippine Marines patrol Barangay Saduc in Marawi City on June 6, 2017. Photo by Bbobby Lagsa/Rappler

The Philippine Army announced that the US Special Operations Forces have begun providing technical support to help end the siege imposed on Marawi city by ISIS fighters.

At a press conference, Lieutenant Colonel Jo-Ar Herrera of the Philippine Army said that “US forces are not fighting but only providing technical support.” A spokesman for the US Embassy in the Philippines said the Philippine Army asked for American help in the Battle of Marawi, which entered its third week.

OV-10 Bronco is carrying out airstrikes on ISIS targets in Marawi

From its side, ISIS claimed that 19 Philippine soldiers were killed during clashes in Dagodban district of Marawi city.

ISIS also claimed that its fighters managed to damage an armored vehicle of the Philippine army with a rocket-propelled grenade in Marawi yesterday.

According to the Philippine government, 58 soldiers and 139 ISIS terrorists have been killed so far, and 20 civilians have lost their life as a result of clashes in Marawi.

Jihadists have been actively using tunnels and caves in order to resist air and ground attacks by the security forces. The army says the jihadists occupy only about 10% of Marawi.

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