In pictures: Daesh takes control of its first city in the Philippines
YemenExtra
M.A.
Overnight, intensive clashes erupted in the city of Marawi located in the southern Philippines after security forces and Daesh sleeper cells battled it out for hours on end.
Two soldiers and one police officer were killed in the velitation although no civilians were wounded by crossfire, a military source reported.
Eventually, the Philippine Army retreated from most of the city on Tuesday morning, thereby making it the first city in southeast Asia to come under Daesh control.
Some 500 Daesh rebels are said to be present in Marawi. These heavily armed terrorist fighters have been capable of taking control of the city center and set up roadblocks in a number of districts.
Additionally, Daesh members have captured the major prison in Marawi and set free of over a hundred prisoners, many of whom are sympathizers and may join its fighting ranks.
Several of military vehicles and weapons were also seized during the battle although no official confirmation on the events have been issued by Amaq Agency yet.
Photos of Daesh fighters raising the notorious black flag in downtown Marawi:
In response, Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte announced martial law in Mindanao province while the provincial mayor requested the army to send reinforcements which are expected to arrive tomorrow for an upcoming counter-assault.
The Philippine Army still possesses most army bases and government buildings inside Marawi under control and has set up checkpoints on its outskirts although Daesh controls majority of the residential areas. For example, the main hospital in the city remains under siege. Marawi is home to over 200,000 resident s and is hardly the size of Raqqa in comparison.
Rodrigo Duterte is currently in Moscow, visiting Vladimir Putin.
