Two leaders of a militant alliance loyal to the Islamic State group were killed on Monday in clashes with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in southern Marawi City, the defense secretary said on Monday.
“They were killed,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters, referring to Omarkhayam Maute and Isnilon Hapilon.
Another rebel commander, Malaysian Mahmud Ahmad, was still at large, he said.
Hapilon is the anointed “emir” of Islamic State in Southeast Asia, and Omarkhayam Maute is one of two brothers at the helm of the militant group that has been fighting the military since a siege of Marawi City began on May 23.
Fighting in Marawi City erupted when government troops attempted to arrest Hapilon who was declared as the ’emir’ of the terror group ISIS in Southeast Asia last May 23.
The fighting prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao. (with a report from Reuters)