Philippine Marawi Siege: Military makes final push as conflict enters 100th day

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The battle for Marawi City in the Southern Philippines between the military and ISIL-linked militants has entered its hundredth day. Hundreds have died and parts of the city are beyond recognition. CGTN’s Barnaby Lo has this report from the conflict's ground zero.

It took more than three months, but last week the Philippine military seized control of one of Marawi City’s most significant landmarks – the Grand Mosque. Now officials say ground troops are making a final push to liberate the Southern Philippine city from ISIL-allied militants. How long that will take, however, they won’t say.

BGEN. MELQUIADES ORDIALES PHILIPPINE MARINE CORPS We cannot say how many days but as far as we’re concerned, we are only about 500 meters away.

Driving the enemies away from the city and to this lake though may be easier said than done, judging by how long it took for the Philippine marines to clear this street of enemy fighters.

BGEN. MELQUIADES ORDIALES PHILIPPINE MARINE CORPS You know, from the start, we took about two months to reach this place. And upon reaching that area, on the left side, it took us one week to cross this street, and we have so many casualties.

In fact, in the early days of the crisis, we’d wandered into this part of Marawi, and saw what appeared to be an ISIL flag. This now is what remains of it – building upon building, torn by war.

BARNABY LO MARAWI CITY This area is one of the many areas that has been declared clear by the military but that doesn’t mean that this area is already safe. As you can hear, there are still firefights going on not far from here.

And, they were fierce, it appears the enemy’s not going to give up resistance until the very end. Barnaby Lo, CGTN, Marawi City in the Southern Philippines