[Reuters] Rebels holding parts of the southern Philippine city of Marawi have been cornered and their firepower is diminishing after five weeks of fighting. But despite signs that the militants are now on the back foot, regional governments are worried that the siege could be just the prelude to further violence as the Islamic State tries to establish a foothold in the area.
Jolted by the May 23 attack on Marawi, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines have launched joint patrols to control the movement of militants across islands in the region and their foreign ministers gathered in Manila on Thursday for talks.
Malaysia is worried that militants who are flushed out of Marawi City may try to cross from the Philippines to its eastern state of Sabah. Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) chief Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said, "We fear that they may enter the country disguised as illegal immigrants or foreign fishermen."
He said Esscom had drawn up a wanted list that included two militants who spearheaded the attempt to capture Marawi. They are Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, who was proclaimed last year as the Islamic State's "emir" of Southeast Asia, and Abdullah Maute.
The Philippine military said the number of militants holding out in Marawi had dwindled to "a little over 100".
"Their area has been reduced to one square kilometer only," said Lt Col Christopher Tampus, whose troops are blocking escape routes across bridges spanning a river to the west of the rebels. He said, "Our forces are coming from the east and the north and we are blocking the three bridges."
Tampus said rebel snipers were still firing from strategic nests in schools and mosques, and home-made bombs were hampering the progress of troops as they advanced house by house. He said he had seen at least five civilians dressed in black who appeared to have been forced to stand in the street as human shields.
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Posted by: ryuge ||
06/23/2017 00:00 ||
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Link ||
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#1
He said he had seen at least five civilians dressed in black who appeared to have been forced to stand in the street as human shields.
Happy Ramadan!
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/23/2017 8:39 Comments ||
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#2
Well, it being a Religion of Peace™, and all that...
[ABS-CBN] One of the Maute brothers is likely dead, said Philippine military chief of staff Eduardo Año on Thursday. He said Omarkhayam Maute was most likely killed in the siege of Marawi City but his brother, Abdullah, is still alive and is still in Marawi along with Isnilon Hapilon, the alleged regional Islamic State leader.
He did not say when Omar was killed or provide proof.
Philippine Army 1st Infantry Division spokesperson Jo-Ar Herrera earlier said the military was confirming reports that Omar and his brother Madie were killed in the Marawi clashes. He said, "There are reports that Omar and Madie were killed in the operations. We are still validating this report but there are strong indications that they [were] killed."
The reported death of the two militants came after the arrest of their parents. The Maute patriarch was arrested on June 6 at a checkpoint in Sirawan, Toril, Davao City. Farhana Maute was apprehended on June 10 in Masiu, Lanao del Sur while trying to leave the province.
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Posted by: ryuge ||
06/23/2017 00:00 ||
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[FMT] Ismail Ternang, a former top leader of the Pattani United Liberation Organisation (PULO), was arrested in Malaysia several days ago for security offenses allegedly related to arms smuggling.
Thailand's Fourth Army commander Lt Gen Piyawat Nakwanich confirmed Ternang's arrest. He said, "I was informed that he was arrested by the Malaysian authorities. My men have double checked (with reliable sources) on his reported arrest."
He said the former PULO leader was not wanted for any security offense, nor did he carry an arrest warrent in Thailand since his release from prison two years ago. However, security authorities had exercised normal monitoring to keep an eye on him.
According to a source, Ismail was arrested several days ago at his family-run restaurant in Perak following an investigation by Malaysian police. His arrest followed a police operation in Kedah several days ago where a man was gunned down after a brief clash.
The dead man was suspected to have been involved in arms smuggling at the Malaysian-Thai border area. The source said, "The police checked the deceased’s handphone and found Ismail’s handphone number, which led to his arrest days later."
The source also claimed Ismail had since been released by Malaysian authorities, but this has not been confirmed.
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[Reuters] Rebels holding parts of the southern Philippine city of Marawi have been cornered and their firepower is diminishing after five weeks of fighting. But despite signs that the militants are now on the back foot, regional governments are worried that the siege could be just the prelude to further violence as the Islamic State tries to establish a foothold in the area.
[ABS-CBN] One of the Maute brothers is likely dead, said Philippine military chief of staff Eduardo Año on Thursday. He said Omarkhayam Maute was most likely killed in the siege of Marawi City but his brother, Abdullah, is still alive and is still in Marawi along with Isnilon Hapilon, the alleged regional Islamic State leader.
[FMT] Ismail Ternang, a former top leader of the Pattani United Liberation Organisation (PULO), was arrested in Malaysia several days ago for security offenses allegedly related to arms smuggling.
