The Philippines says the military's almost four-month-long armed campaign against ISIL-affliated militants in the south, is nearing an end. Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana gave the update on the battle in Marawi city.

 

DELFIN LORENZANA, PHILIPPINE SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE There's very little left here. There is just a small area left for us to recover. The battle now is focused in this area within a half kilometer radius. That's why I've been told by our ground commanders that we are not far away from the end of this battle.

 

Lorenzana said government troops had killed 670 terrorists and liberated over 17 hundred civilians. Nearly 150 soldiers and 47 civilians have lost their lives. Philippine military and police have been battling with militants from the anti-government "Maute Group" and Abu Sayyaf since May. Over 460-thousand people in the region have fled their homes, and over 20 thousand are sheltering in the government's evacuation center.