Philippines air force strikes Daesh-inspired group

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines (AA) - The Philippines’ military launched air strikes Saturday against a Daesh-inspired militant group after its members occupied buildings in a southern town that had been occupied by the “Maute group” earlier this year.

Col. Roseller Murillo, 103rd Army Brigade commander, said a firefight broke out between government forces and the militants in the morning as troops attempted to recapture buildings overran by the group in Butig in majority Muslim Lanao del Sur province.

“Ongoing offensive as of this time. We will push further in the coming days,” The Philippine Star quoted him as saying.

The militant group, believed to have around 200 members, reportedly seized an old abandoned municipal building, a high school and a mosque in Butig, and hung Daesh flags at some buildings and houses.

According to news broadcaster ABS-CBN, all roads in the town have been closed off to the public and an undetermined number of residents have been evacuated.

The military said two SF260 air force planes dropped bombs to support troops, news website Rappler reported.

At least two government troops were wounded in the clashes.

The military had flushed the Maute group out of Butig earlier this year.

Last month, authorities arrested three members accused of involvement in a September bombing that left 15 people dead in southern Davao City -- President Rodrigo Duterte’s hometown.

The military has described the group as being linked to the Abu Sayyaf.

The Abu Sayyaf is one of two larger militant groups in the south who have pledged allegiance to Daesh, prompting fears during a stall of a peace process between the government and the country’s one-time largest Moro rebel front that it could make inroads in a region torn by decades of armed conflict.