Marawi: From eruption of conflict to a declaration of liberation

Twenty-one weeks of unrelenting fighting by government troops in the besieged city of Marawi led to the killing of two terrorist leaders at midnight on October 16, just as Sunday turned into Monday.

With the Maute group's area of control having dwindled to a few hectares, special forces launched an assault on a building near Binidayan dock, where Omarkhayam Maute and Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon were hiding.

Hapilon was shot in the chest; Maute in the head.

Their bodies were brought to military headquarters. While a DNA test has not yet been conducted to verify their identities, the remains were positively identified by the hostages and by Maute members who had turned themselves in.

The next day, President Rodrigo Duterte declared Marawi City liberated.

However, the fighting continued, with the military making one final push to rid the city of terrorists.

By October 22, the troops had cornered the remaining terrorists in one building. And on October 23, the government announced an end to the conflict.

Below are some key dates in the five-month Marawi crisis.

— BM, GMA News