Eftersökt IS-ledare dödad i södra Filippinerna

The Battle of Marawi (Filipino: Labanan sa Marawi), also known as the Marawi siege (Filipino: Pagkubkob sa Marawi) and the Marawi crisis (Filipino: Krisis sa Marawi), is an ongoing armed conflict in Marawi, Lanao del Sur, that started on 23 May 2017 between Philippine government security forces and affiliated militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), including the Maute and Abu Sayyaf Salafi jihadist groups. According to the Philippine government, the clashes began during an offensive in Marawi to capture Isnilon Hapilon, the leader of the ISIL-affiliated Abu Sayyaf group, after receiving reports that Hapilon was in the city, possibly to meet with militants of the Maute group. A deadly firefight erupted when Hapilon's forces opened fire on the combined Army and police teams and called for reinforcements from the Maute group, an armed group that pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, and who are believed to be responsible for the 2016 Davao City bombing, according to military spokesmen. Maute group militants attacked Camp Ranao and occupied several buildings in the city, including Marawi City Hall, Mindanao State University, a hospital and the city jail. They also occupied the main street and set fire to Saint Mary's Cathedral, Ninoy Aquino School and Dansalan College, run by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP). The militants also took a priest and several churchgoers hostage. On 26 May 2017, the Armed Forces of the Philippines stated that some of the terrorists are foreigners who have been in the country for quite some time, offering support to the Maute group in Marawi. Their main objective was to raise an ISIL flag at the Lanao del Sur Provincial Capitol and declare a wilayat or provincial ISIL territory in Lanao del Sur.