“Because they (the Maute group) threatened to go down from the mountains to burn down Marawi? Go ahead, be my guest. We will wait for you there. No problem.” -Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, 2 December 2016
On May 23rd, 2017, at around 2:00 PM local-time, clashes broke out in the Philippine city of Marawi, located on the island of Mindanao. The clashes are the culmination of months of increasing numbers of violent attacks across the Philippines by the designated terror groups Maute and Abu Sayyaf, both affiliates of Daesh (Maute being an unofficial affiliate, Abu Sayyaf being official). The fighting erupted when the Philippine Army, along with the Philippine National Police (PNP), launched an operation to capture or kill Isnilon Hapilon, the leader of Abu Sayyaf. The government had received tips that Hapilon was in Marawi to meet with the leaders of Maute, a possible indicator of a desire to merge or for Maute to declare official allegiance to Daesh.
Maute militants flying the Black Standard in Marawi
Under attack from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Hapilon called for assistance from Maute, who responded by occupying the nearby Amai Pakpak Hospital. 500 members of Maute attacked the nearby Camp Ranao, home of the 103rd Brigade of the Philippine Army. Marawi was placed on lockdown as members of Maute began taking to the streets with the Black Standard. Buildings around the city were set ablaze, including the city jail, from which 107 inmates escaped. Roads were blocked and checkpoints established both by the government and Maute. By the end of the day, President Duterte had declared a state of emergency for Mindanao.
Maute members with a captured police vehicle
The next day (May 24) saw the Philippine military reinforced via Laguindingan Airport, and with these new forces in the area, the army was able to recapture the Amai Pakpak Hospital, along with Marawi city hall and Mindanao State University. The following day, the Philippine Air Force joined the fight, launching surgical strikes in three villages. Reports began arriving stating that foreign fighters from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia were with Hapilon and were attempting to push him to create the Islamic State in Southeast Asia. This was confirmed on the 26th by the AFP. Several houses were set alight by Maute militants as they tried to clear AFP troops from the area.
Philippine troops taking down a Daesh flag in Marawi
The Philippine Air Force, along with the Philippine Marines and members of the Special Action Force continued their fight through the 27th, with forces doing a house-by-house search of the now nearly-deserted Marawi. Approximately 90 percent of the 200,000 people living in the city had been evacuated in the previous four days, mostly to nearby Iligan. AFP troops began reporting seeing child soldiers as young as 10 years old in Maute formations. As of this writing (May 28, 2017), 61 members of Maute have been killed in the fighting, with an unknown number (likely less than 100) remaining in the city. In addition to this, at least 500 fighters remain on the outskirts of the town, clashing with the military. 11 AFP troops have been killed, along with 4 police officers (one of whom was beheaded), and an additional 39 have been wounded. 18 civilians have been killed in the fighting, and at least 15 remain in captivity with Maute.
Marawi burning after Philippine Air Force airstrikes
To deal with the situation that is rapidly unfolding in Marawi, President Duterte needs to show a combination of strength, resolve, and mercy. Too light or too heavy of a reaction will result in further bloodshed. And while the United States has yet to get involved in the clashes directly, it remains a distinct possibility due to the mutual defense treaty between the US and the Philippines.
