Maute members burning Marawi buildings to throw soldiers off-track –military

From GMA News (Sep 22): Maute members burning Marawi buildings to throw soldiers off-track –military

[Video report]

The remaining Maute terrorists in Marawi City are burning buildings and other structures to throw government troops off their tracks, according to a report on News To Go on Friday.

An exclusive video shown in the report shows thick smoke emanating from still-burning buildings, effectively obscuring the position of the bandits who continue to exchange fire with the troops.

The military said the four-month battle to retake Marawi City from the ISIS-inspired group is drawing to a close.

The report said government soldiers are now firing 105-mm long-range weapons directly at enemy lines and are dropping bombs around the main battle area as they double their efforts the flush out the remaining members of the terrorist group.

Officials are also working double time to recover more hostages after the successful rescue of the Catholic priest Fr. Chito Soganub, who has been taken hostage by the Maute group during the early days of their attack on the city.

Up to 300 buildings in Marawi City have yet to be cleared as of Tuesday afternoon, the military said.

The fighting, which started on May 23, prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law over the entire Mindanao island group.

More than 360,000 of the city’s inhabitants have been displaced whereas almost 800 people, mostly terrorists, have been killed as of September 17.

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