Philippine soldiers in a raid on May 25 (Source: Xinhua/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - 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, announced Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on June 1.
Speaking with reporters, the official said the incident occurred a day earlier due to unharmonious coordination among forces. Air strikes may also be suspended as militants will not be able to resist in a long time.
The violence in the city erupted on May 23 after security forces raided on the suspected house of Isnilon Hapilon, a commander of the Abu Sayyaf group and leader of a branch of self-claimed Islamic State (IS) in the Philippines.
The US lists Hapilon as one of the world's most dangerous terrorists and has offered a bounty of 5 million USD for his capture.
The Philippine armed forces have been using a combination of ground operations by soldiers and helicopter air strikes to dislodge rebels, who have occupied several parts of Marawi city. The Philippine army affirmed that 90 percent of the city’s areas were freed from the militants.-VNA
