Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on October 23 officially announced an end to a five-month battle against Islamic State supporters. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on October 23 officially announced an end to a five-month battle against Islamic State supporters in the southern Philippines’ Marawi city.
“We now announce the termination of all combat operations in Marawi and there are no more militants in Marawi,” he told reporters in Clark on the sidelines of a meeting of regional defence ministers.
The armed forces chief General Eduardo Ano said that at least 42 bodies of rebels were found in two buildings and a mosque in the battle zone.
The ensuing US-backed military campaign claimed the lives of at least 919 militants, 165 soldiers and policemen, according to the military.
Over 1,700 soldiers and policemen were injured and some 400,000 residents were displaced as near-daily air strikes and intense ground combat left large parts of the city in ruins.-VNA
VNA
