The death toll in the Marawi conflict in the Philippines has reached 537. The number includes 399 Islamic militants, 45 civilians and 93 government soldiers and policemen.

Clashes between the Philippine army and ISIL-backed militants broke out in the Philippines's only Islamic city on May 23. Experts said foreign ISIL fighters from other Southeast Asian countries have taken part in terrorist attacks.

Though only a fraction of an estimated 700 ISIL militants are still fighting in the city, they are scattered all over the downtown area and are well-positioned in tall structures, forcing government forces into a time-consuming and dangerous process of clearing each and every building, reported CGTN’s Barnaby Lo from Manila.

Satellite images showed that a lot of fighting in Marawi was wall-to-wall. Considering the frequency of military air assets dropping bombs, government forces were at risk of being hit by their own men. So far 12 soldiers have been killed in such accidents.