This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/7535

Martial Law Declared In Mindanao After Philippine City Attacked By ISIS Terrorist Group

May 23, 2017

ISIS commandeers Philippine city as soldiers battle in streets

Fires break out in college, church, jail, as army and police react with gunfire in Marawi City

Mordechai Sones, כ"ז באייר תשע"ז, 5/23/2017

A unit of heavily-armed fighters from a group linked to ISIS has reportedly stormed a Philippine city and engaged in firefights with the national army, according to theIndependent and other sources.

Residents of Marawi City, in the south of the country, were asked to remain indoors as at least 15 gunmen from a Muslim rebel group called Maute stormed streets brandishing assault rifles.

The group, which is also known as the Islamic State of Lanao, has reportedly received inspiration and support from ISIS.

Soldiers and a special police force were deployed to the city after residents in a nearby village raised the alarm and called for help.

At least three separate fires have broken out in the city as the gun battles there continue to rage.

Fighting began around 2 PM today as the military sought to hunt down "high-value targets" who infiltrated the city, according to local residents.

The situation rapidly deteriorated. Suspected Maute members were spotted on the streets, with the black ISIS flag seen waving atop vehicles.

As of now, one policeman has been reported killed with another 5 security forces wounded. Reinforcements are on the way to the city.

Update: Philippines President Duterte has declared martial law in the entire Mindanao area amid the ongoing attack in Marawi. President Duterte will cut short his trip to Russia due to the Marawi situation.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/230078

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ISIS overruns Philippine city, control elusive as fighting rages

Duterte declares martial law in entire Mindanao area amid ongoing attack, will cut short Russia trip due to Marawi situation.

Mordechai Sones, כ"ז באייר תשע"ז, 5/23/2017

An ISIS-linked Islamist group has reportedly overrun significant sections of the city of Marawi, located on the southern island of Mindanao in The Philippines, according toConflict News and other sources.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law in the entire Mindanao area amid the ongoing attack in Marawi. President Duterte will cut short his trip to Russia due to the Marawi situation.


watch

According to social media reports, gunfire first began around 2 PM local time when government troops reportedly attempted to raid a number of "high value" targets from the Maute Group and the Abu Sayyaf group. Both of these are Islamic groups that have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) and are responsible for multiple deadly attacks in the past.

These raids were apparently not successful and were repulsed by fighters from the Maute Group - also known as the Islamic State of Lanao. Throughout the afternoon, Maute fighters (possibly with outside reinforcement) managed to take control of significant positions of the city. ISIS flags were flown over several prominent buildings, and photos on social media showed significant numbers of gunmen moving through Marawi. Videos posted online recorded the sound of fierce firefights in the city's western districts.

As night fell the Muslims took over a hospital and laid siege to Marawi's prison - it is unclear at this stage if the installation has fallen or not, but fires have been reported. Police and government troops continued to engage the Muslims however local reports seemed to suggest they were not successful. The city's mayor took the extraordinary step of calling for military reinforcements to help stabilize the situation.

By 10PM local time significant fires raged within the city including at the prison, the Dasalan College, and Saint Mary's Church. Residents also reported Muslims setting up roadblocks to fortify sections of the city.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/230084

This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/7535