Ten Philippine soldiers killed in military air strike
Ten Philippines soldiers were killed and eight other wounded in an air strike of the military targeting Muslim militants in Marawi city of Mindanao, southern Philippines.
Philippine soldiers in a raid on May 25 (Source: Xinhua/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) 🎃- Ten Philippines soldiers were killed and eight otherwounded in an air strike of the milita๊ry targeting Muslim militants in Marawicity of Mindanao, southern Philippines, announced Defence Secretary DelfinLorenzana on June 1.
Speaking with reporters, the official said the incident occurred a dayearlier due to unharmonious coordination among forces. Air strikes may also besuspended as militants will not be able to resist in a long time. The violence in the city erupted on May23 after security forces raided on the suspected house of Isnilon Hapilon, acommander of the Abu Sayyaf group and leader of a branch of self-claimedIslamic State (IS) in the Philippines. The US lists Hapilon as one of theworld's most dangerous terrorists and has offered a bounty of 5 million USD forhis capture. The Philippine armed forces have been using a combination of groundoperations by soldiers and helicopter air strikes to dislodge rebels, who have occupiedseveral parts of Marawi city. The Philippine army affirmed that 90 percent ofthe city’s areas were freed from the militants.-VNA
Up to 2,000 Philippine people are still stuck inside Marawi city of Mindanao, southern the Philippines, as fierce fighting between the Philippine security forces and Islamic militants continues.
It is feared that southern Philippines is fast becoming a centre of extremist groups in Asia, as evidenced by dozens of foreign gunmen joining hands with local IS militants to fight security forces in the region last week.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to postpone his trip to Japan in June due to the situation in Marawi city of Mindanao island, the southern Philippines.
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Philippine soldiers in a raid on May 25 (Source: Xinhua/VNA) 
