
© Froilan Gallardo / ReutersAn Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and government troops march towards Mapandi bridge, southern Philippines.
The Philippines military is about to end the long battle of Marawi where an Islamic State-linked terrorist group is making its "last stand" amid heavy fighting, top army commanders announced, according to AFP.
"We are hoping that we will end this Marawi siege very soon," Colonel Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of the task force battling the militants, told reporters on Friday, as cited by AFP.
Around 40 militants remain in the besieged area, including warlords like Isnilon Hapilon and Omarkhayam Maute, whose group has pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL). Around 100 civilians, including hostages and families of the militants, are also trapped there, Brawner added.
"Women and children are now forced to fight together with the Maute-ISIS fighters. These are desperate measures the Maute-ISIS are doing. This is their last defensive stand," the officer said.The military previously estimated that they will liberate Marawi by Sunday. They
said more than 1,000 people have been killed in the fighting, according to AFP.
Twenty soldiers were wounded in the offensive, which illustrates the extent of the fighting, Colonel Brawner said.
Comment: Religion is a powerful tool for the establishments throughout history, around the world. Let's hope this is not another US deep state operation. We can assume that Putin is closely watching the developments with a caution.