Number of terrorists killed in Marawi conflict exceeds 500

Eleven more members of the terrorist Maute group were killed in skirmishes with government forces, bringing the enemy's death toll in the ongoing armed conflict in Marawi City to 502, the Philippine military said Tuesday.

As of 19:00 Monday, 502 Maute members had died at the hands of government troops,  1,724 civilians had been rescued and 592 weapons recovered.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla said that government forces have recaptured an important bridge in Marawi, which is a crucial breakthrough in the conflict.

Captain Jo-ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the military Western Mindanao Command and Joint Task Force Marawi, said this feat meant that troops were drawing closer to liberating the city.

Government forces have entered the main battle area, said Petinglay. She added that the Maute members continued to put up resistance against the advancing troops but not as strong as they had during the initial stage of the conflict, which broke out on May 23.

Disarming improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by Maute members are delaying the conclusion of the military campaign, she stressed.

According to Petinglay, the number of slain government troops and civilians remained at 114 and 45, respectively. —Reuters/KVD