ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Philippine Air Force jets on Monday launched airstrikes to clear positions held by the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.
The PAF sent two FA-50 jets in attacking militant positions that have been rigged with improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
This, after two soldiers were killed Sunday from the IED explosions while advancing on an area of around a square kilometer covering two villages, said Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson of Western Mindanao Command and Joint Task Force Marawi.
Petinglay said a soldier also died of a stroke Sunday.
The fresh casualties brought the number of security personnel killed in the Marawi crisis to 122.
Petinglay said at least 528 terrorists have also been killed since May 23 and 603 firearms have been recovered from the battle area.
Since then, 1,728 civilians have been rescued from the besieged parts of the city.
Petinglay said they have been utilizing the FA-50 jets in the airstrikes for a week now.
They were initially grounded after a wayward bomb in early July left two soldiers dead and 11 injured.
“The airstrike is needed to clear resistance from the terrorists while ground forces were advancing to finally retake Marawi City,” Petinglay said.
She said while security forces prepare to retake Marawi from the Maute Group, Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. of the Western Mindanao Command has not set a definite timeline for that.
“Malapit na, kaunting pasensya na lang,” Petinglay quoted Galvez as saying.
Meanwhile, the military did not allow the opening of classes in Mindanao State University Marawi on Monday citing security considerations.
Petinglay said Gen. Galvez had asked for two more weeks for security preparations.
“General Galvez sought the opening classes as he believes education is one of the antidote to counter terrorism,” Petinglay said.