Troops preparing for final assault vs Maute
With the Marawi crisis nearing its 100th day of fighting, government forces in the war-torn city are now preparing for the final assault against the Maute terrorists with hopes of ending the battle soon. AP/Bullit Marquez, File
MANILA, Philippines - With the Marawi crisis nearing its 100th day of fighting, government forces in the war-torn city are now preparing for the final assault against the Maute terrorists with hopes of ending the battle soon.
“Our troops are preparing for final assault,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said yesterday as he refused to set a deadline or target date as to when the final push will be carried out.
“When? It’s up to them,” Lorenzana said, stressing the decision is with the ground commanders and the troops in the battleground.
The military continues to battle the Maute terrorists to retake Marawi City for 98 days running.
The fighting has claimed the lives of 130 soldiers and policemen while at least 603 terrorists have been killed and civilian casualties remain at 45.
The troops are now close to retaking Marawi from the terrorists.
The city’s police headquarters had been retaken from the extremists last Thursday while the Grand Mosque was recaptured the following day.
The extremists had used the Grand Mosque as a strategic post, located downtown, as well as other mosques in the city as machine gun and sniper nests.
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