The United States on Tuesday hailed the operation carried out by the Philippine military that killed the two ISIS-linked leaders of a deadly siege in Marawi City as it vowed to continue working closely with its Filipino counterparts to fight extremism and terrorism.
“We congratulate our partners in the Armed Forces of the Philippines for their reported success in killing two of the leaders behind the months-long clash in Marawi: Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute,” US Embassy spokesperson Molly Koscina told GMA News Online.
Hapilon and Maute were killed in a gunbattle and their bodies were recovered in Marawi on Monday morning.
The AFP is in the final stages of eradicating the remnants of ISIS-linked Filipino militants, who staged attacks on Marawi City last May 23.
Nearly 1,000 people, including many militants, have been killed in months of fighting and an estimated 40 gunmen, including foreigners, remain fighting in a much-smaller area in Marawi, the military said.
Thousands, who have been displaced, either live in temporary shelters or are staying with relatives.
President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law in Mindanao to address the militant takeover in Marawi – the worst crisis he has encountered since he assumed the presidency in June 2016.
US Special Forces have been assisting the AFP end the siege by providing technical assistance and enemy surveillance to Filipino troops battling the militants in Marawi.
“The US is proud to support the AFP’s counterterrorism efforts in Mindanao through intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, and other technical assistance,” Koscina said.
Philippines-US counter-terrorism cooperation over the years has successfully led to the killing of key local terrorists in Mindanao.
“The US-Philippine alliance is built on a 70-year history. We will continue working with our Filipino friends, partners and allies to eradicate violent extremism and terrorism,” Kosina said. — Michaela del Callar/RSJ, GMA News
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