Army soliders monitor the entry point to Butig, Lanao del Sur.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Saturday that it is currently battling members of the Maute Group, an armed Islamist group behind the Davao City bombing in September, in the municipality of Butig in Lanao del Sur.
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In a statement, the AFP Western Mindanao Command said two soldiers were hurt in an engagement near an old municipality building in an abandoned part of Butig.
AFP Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla told CNN Philippines that the soldiers' injuries are not life-threatening and that they have been evacuated.
Around 50 to 100 Maute Group members are involved in the clash and are reported to be attempting to take over the entire municipality.
Lanao del Sur Gov. Soraya Adiong told CNN Philippines that civilians affected by the ongoing firefight between the military and the Maute Group have been evacuated.
The AFP had been conducting clearing operations in the area on Saturday morning to hunt down the Maute Group when it encountered 15 of the group's members armed with four rocket-propelled grenade launchers.
At 10:40 a.m., two Philippine Air Force helicopters conducted air strikes against the enemy combatants to support the AFP.
Padilla said the AFP are well-supported by the local government and have enough air assets, artillery and armor assets.
http://cnnphilippines.com/regional/2016/11/26/2-soldiers-hurt-in-Lanao-del-Sur-clash-with-Maute-Group.html
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