Airstrikes in Marawi to continue amid Ramadan —AFP official

An official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Saturday said airstrikes and other military actions in Marawi City will continue despite the ongoing Ramadan.

"As fighting continues in Marawi, our units are constrained to launch airstrikes to identified specific targets occupied by the Maute/ISIS terrorist group," Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. said in a statement.

Galvez said they are employing air assets to "target with precision" select areas, where the Maute group are believed to be isolated.

"These terrorists atrocities continue sow terror and confusion even to non-combatant Muslims and Christians. Establishments remain nonoperational and government services unavailable causing extreme deprivation and hardships to the people," he added.

Despite ongoing operations against the Maute group in Marawi City, Galvez said troops would respect the observance of Ramadan in the besieged city and other parts of Mindanao, which has been placed by President Rodrigo Duterte under martial law.

"The entire Western Mindanao Command joins our Muslim brethren in the observance of the Holy Month of Ramadan," he said.

He added that his command was under instructions to provide security to mosques to allow Muslims to observe Ramadan..

"The terrorists actions prevent their fellow Muslims to peacefully and solemnly observe Ramadan by continuing to occupy buildings and structures in Marawi City. They serve to  impede our troops in restoring peace and order in the City," Galvez said.

Meanwhile, Galvez said Muslim troops' Ramadan break have also been affected by the Maute group's attack in Marawi City.

Our Muslim soldiers for now, need to give their share of sacrifices in order to make sure that Islam believers from Marawi can soon go back to their homes and observe Ramadan," he said.

The observance of the month-long Ramadan started on Friday. —John Ted Cordero/ALG, GMA News