Interesting that Philippines Pres Duterte has spoken many big words about his battles against drug lords and how people are “honor” killing drug dealers yet no one has done anything but talk when it comes to ISIS taking over an entire city – PB/TK
ISIS in Southeast Asia: Philippines battles growing threat – By James Griffiths / May 29 2017
The black flag of ISIS has been raised in the Philippines.
At least 103 people have died in the city of Marawi on the southern island of Mindanao in less than a week as fighters affiliated with the so-called Islamic State engaged in violent clashes with government forces, and martial law was declared over the entire island.
Local resident Chico Usman said the militants had entered the predominantly Muslim city of some 200,000 suddenly, on the afternoon of May 24, wearing masks and carrying assault rifles. “Everybody was shocked and ran into their houses,” he said, adding they could hear gunfire and fighting until the following morning.
Black ISIS flags emblazoned in white with the words “There is no god but God” were flying from “every corner in the city,” said Usman, who spoke to CNN from near Saguiaran, a town outside Marawi, where thousands of fleeing residents had taken temporary shelter.
Photos showed long queues of cars piled with people and belongings, as tanks and armored troop vehicles headed in the opposite direction.
Clashes between government forces and militants had claimed the lives of 19 civilians, 11 military and four policemen, as of Sunday afternoon, according to a spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The AFP confirmed 61 militants had also been killed.
Continue to cnn.com article: http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/28/asia/isis-threat-southeast-asia/index.html
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