Philippine armed forces helicopters fired guided rockets at Islamist militant positions on Saturday in an attempt to end a siege in the southern city of Marawi that has raged for five days.
The use for the first time of the heavy firepower came amid growing confidence that the location of the man believed to be the leader of the Islamic State-inspired fighters, Isnilon Hapilon, has been pinpointed in the city.
"We are trying to use our maximum force," said Major General Carlito Galvez, who heads the military command in the Western Mindanao region.
"The main purpose of the offensive is to suppress the lawlessness and to maintain normalcy in Marawi so that our people here, our countrymen, can return, especially by Ramadan."
Ramadan, Islam's month of fasting and prayer, began on Saturday and has special significance in Marawi, which has a predominantly Muslim population is a largely Catholic country.
The Maute rebels' hold of Marawi City and the government's announcement that Indonesians and Malaysians were among the fighters has raised alarm about the prospect of Islamic State's radical ideology gaining traction Southeast Asia.
The Maute have emerged from the glut of bandit and separatist groups in the southern Philippines and are a tactically smart, social media savvy group eager to align with Islamic State militants.
Security experts say Mindanao could become a draw for regional extremists and the Maute's alignment with the Islamic State group and its ability to take on the military could support moves to secure funding and recruit foreign and local fighters.
A city of 200,000 people, Marawi is mostly deserted, with officials saying "80-90 percent" of the population has been evacuated.
Some resident remain in relatively safe neighbours but others are trapped close to the fighters from the Maute group and other militants from the area.
Islamic State's Amaq news agency claimed responsibility for the Marawi unrest, although that came more than a day after it started. The military says Maute has yet to be endorsed by Islamic State, or ISIS, as one of its affiliates.
REBEL CONTROL
The militants have control of some government buildings, including a jail, which was seized on Tuesday, leading to the escape of more than 100 prisoners, including some Maute members.
"I saw them near the highway. I saw ISIS there. I could tell because they wore black headbands with the ISIS signs," said one man fleeing Marawi by foot, who identified himself as Musa.
"They were also riding around my area on motorcycles."
Jo-Ar Herrera, a military spokesman, said 41 militants had been killed, with 10 more deaths after heavy fighting on Friday. Two more soldiers died, bringing the total of those killed in action to 13. Forty-five military personnel had been wounded.
Asked whether the military had located the whereabouts of Hapilon in Marawi, Herrera answered "yes".
"They can run but they can't hide," he said, adding that it was only a matter of time before Hapilon is captured or killed."
Hapilon, a leader of another Mindanao-based rebel group Abu Sayyaf, pledged allegiance to Islamic State last year and has formed an alliance with Maute. The military says he is still wounded from a January air strike and the fierce Maute resistance is aimed at protecting him.
According to Philippines Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Hapilon received $2 million from Syria to fund his campaign in Mindanao.
Sidney Jones, a regional security expert, said it was not clear that Hapilon was calling the shots in Marawi. Abdullah Maute, one of two brothers that formed Maute, may be setting the overall strategy.
"He's smarter, and the fighters are on his territory. So no, Hapilon's death would not cripple the movement," Jones said.
Reuters
Sat May 27 2017
A city of 200,000 people, Marawi is mostly deserted, with officials saying "80-90 percent" of the population has been evacuated. - REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
LIMA '25 pada 20-24 Mei 2025, ketengah kepentingan pemain industri
Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan Adly Zahari berkata LIMA '25 di pulau peranginan Langkawi, Kedah itu bertemakan Innovate Today, Thrive Tomorrow.
Najib diberi peluang jelaskan mengenai dokumen 1MDB ketika disoal siasat - Pegawai SPRM
Mahkamah Tinggi diberitahu bahawa Najib diberi peluang untuk menjelaskan secara terperinci mengenai dokumen berkaitan 1MDB, ketika disoal siasat.
Pantau Agenda Reformasi: Penstrukturan akaun & pengenalan akaun 3 KWSP
Ikuti kupasan penganalisis ekonomi Pusat Pengajian Siswazah Perniagaan, Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (UNIRAZAK), Prof. Emeritus Barjoyai Bardai mengenai penstrukturan akaun KWSP & pengenalan akaun 3.
Pihak dikaitkan dalam laporan berkaitan lesen kasino perlu ambil tindakan - PM Anwar
Laporan yang memetik satu sumber itu berkata perbincangan mengenai pemberian lesen itu masih di peringkat awal.
Freedom Flotilla to Gaza: 'Berhadapan tekanan Israel, FCC tiada istilah putus asa'
Pemeriksaan kapal penumpang, Akdeniz (Mediterranean) yang terlibat dalam misi Break The Siege Freedom Flotilla to Gaza dilaporkan sedang berjalan.
Niaga AWANI: Airasia Group bakal disenaraikan di Bursa Malaysia pada September - Tony Fernandes
AirAsia Group Sdn Bhd (AAG) bakal disenaraikan di Bursa Malaysia pada September, mengambil alih status penyenaraian AirAsia X Bhd, kata Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Capital A Bhd Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.fernandes, bursa Malaysia.
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
Niaga AWANI: Bekas CEO 7-Eleven, Hishammudin Hasan dilantik terajui Al-Ikhsan
Al-Ikhsan Sports Sdn Bhd, firma swasta dengan 35% pegangan milik
Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas) telah melantik Datuk Hishammudin Hasan sebagai ketua pegawai eksekutif (CEO) baharunya berkuat kuasa 17 April 2024.
#NiagaAWANI
Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas) telah melantik Datuk Hishammudin Hasan sebagai ketua pegawai eksekutif (CEO) baharunya berkuat kuasa 17 April 2024.
#NiagaAWANI
Niaga AWANI: MOT, KHAZANAH, MAG perlu perkukuh tadbir urus MAB
Jelas Perdana Menteri, pengurusan syarikat penerbangan yang baik juga akan memberi manfaat kepada kakitangan melalui gaji yang setimpal dengan perkhidmatan mereka.
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
Niaga AWANI: Vincent Tan tak terbabit rundingan lesen kasino Forest City
Berjaya Corp Bhd (BCorp) menafikan laporan yang mengaitkan Pengasasnya, Tan Sri Vincent Tan terbabit dalam rundingan berkaitan lesen kasino di Forest City, Johor.
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
Niaga AWANI: Kadar antara bank jangka pendek ditutup kukuh susulan operasi BNM
Kadar antara bank jangka pendek ditutup kukuh pada Jumaat susulan operasi Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) menyerap lebihan mudah tunai daripada sistem kewangan.
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
Perintah berkurung di perairan ESSZone dilanjut sehingga 10 April
Perintah berkurung membabitkan perairan tujuh daerah di Zon Selamat Timur Sabah (ESSZone) yang berakhir esok, dilanjutkan sehingga 10 April ini.
Abu Sayyaf: Pasukan komando UTK digerakkan ke pantai timur Sabah
Tahap keselamatan di pantai timur Sabah akan dipertingkatkan termasuk menggerakkan satu pasukan komando Unit Tindakan Khas (UTK) bagi menangani isu berkaitan kumpulan Abu Sayyaf.
Pembuat bom Abu Sayyaf sah masih hidup - ESSCom
Pembuat bom yang juga sub ketua kumpulan Abu Sayyaf, Mudzrimar atau Mundi Sawadjaan yang dilaporkan ditembak mati Mei lepas di Filipina, disahkan masih hidup.
ESSCOM keluarkan 20 senarai suspek dikehendaki terbabit kes penculikan
ESSCOM hari ini mengeluarkan senarai terkini 20 individu warga Filipina yang dikehendaki kerana terbabit dalam kes penculikan untuk wang tebusan.
Kerajaan bangun pelan tindakan kebangsaan, tangani fahaman pelampau keganasan
Kerajaan sedang membangunkan Pelan Tindakan Kebangsaan Bagi Mencegah dan Menangani Fahaman Pelampau Keganasan (NAPPCVE).
Abu Sayyaf: Pemilik ladang perlu pastikan pekerja memiliki dokumen pengenalan diri - Polis
Hazani berkata, jika sukar memastikan pekerja memiliki dokumen yang sah, pemilik ladang perlulah mencari jalan untuk mendokumentasikan sendiri buruh mereka.
Dua anggota Abu Sayyaf maut, 11 ditahan rancang culik pemilik ladang kelapa sawit
Polis Keselamatan menggagalkan cubaan kumpulan militan Abu Sayyaf untuk melakukan penculikan untuk tebusan ke atas pemilik ladang kelapa sawit di sekitar Sandakan.
Polis Sabah tembak mati dua anggota Abu Sayyaf
Kedua-dua lelaki ditembak mati dalam insiden berbalas tembakan dengan pasukan keselamatan.
Mesej Abu Sayyaf tangkap, potong anggota badan penduduk tidak benar - ESSCom
Kawasan Keselamatan Khas Pantai Timur Sabah (ESSCom) menafikan dakwaan berlaku kejadian kumpulan Abu Sayyaf menangkap penduduk kampung dan memotong anggota badan.
Rumah jadi lokasi serang hendap pengganas Abu Sayyaf terhadap polis dimusnahkan
Enam rumah di kawasan hutan di belakang Taman Sri Arjuna, Beaufort yang menjadi lokasi serangan hendap pengganas Abu Sayyaf terhadap pasukan Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) dimusnahkan.