Philippine airstrikes target IS-linked militants near Marawi
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine military airstrikes and ground assaults targeted a group of Islamic State group-linked militants in an offensive that reportedly killed five extremists and forced more than 5,000 villagers to flee to safety in the south, officials said Monday.
Army Col. Romeo Brawner said the offensive Sunday sparked gunbattles between troops and the extremists in Tubaran town in a mountainous region of Lanao del Sur province and the military was verifying reports that at least of five militants had been killed.
Troops captured a jungle camp where they found empty ammunition boxes, and were pursuing the militants, Brawner said.
The offensive targeted about 40 militants led by Owayda Benito Marohombsar, who uses the nom de guerre Abu Dar. He was among those who led a five-month siege of Marawi city, not far from Tubaran, but managed to escape before troops quelled the uprising last October.