Philippines declares end of hostilities against IS militants in Marawi

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (KUNA) -- Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced on Monday end of the hostilities in Marawi in southern Philippines against militants of the so-called Islamic State (IS) or Daesh.
Speaking to reporters, Lorenzana declared the last of the pro-Islamic State group militants in southern Marawi city "finished", exactly five months after the start of the siege that sparked fears of the group gaining a foothold in Southeast Asia.
Speaking at an annual meeting of Southeast Asian defense ministers, Lorenzana told reporters that troops managed to recover 42 bodies of the last group of militants.
"Those are the last group of stragglers of Mautes and they were caught in one building so there was a firefight, so they were finished," he said.(end).
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