Government forces launched airstrikes and artillery attacks in an alleged lair of terrorist groups Dawlah Islamiyah (DI), an Islamic State (ISIS)-affiliated group, and Maute Group, the primary force behind the 2017 Marawi City siege, in Maguing, Lanao del Sur before Tuesday dawn, March 1.
Col. Ramon Zagala, spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said four units under the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) along with their counterparts from the Philippine National Police (PNP) raided the hideout of DI and Maute in Barangay Ilalag around 2 a.m.
In a separate interview, Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., WestMinCom commander, said it was a major combat operation by the Joint Task Force ZamPeLan (Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao provinces), specifically led by the 103rd Infantry Brigade.
“ are identified members of the Dawlah Islamiya and Maute Group,” Rosario said.
When the troops reached the target location, “close air support” was given to protect the troops from the anti-personnel mines that were allegedly planted by the enemies.
Major Andrew Linao, WestMinCom spokesperson, said 12 bombs were dropped by the close air support unit from the Philippine Air Force (PAF) on the location of the targets which houses around 50 enemies.
“Confirmed po ‘yun, sir, ‘yung airstrike natin (Our airstrike was confirmed, sir),” Linao said.
“Mayroon tayong combat and then nagsupport ‘yung air assets natin, two air assets. Naglaglag ng sampung bomba, and then follow up after doon sa sampo ay dalawa (We had a combat operation and then we have two air assets. They dropped 10 bombs and then as a follow-up, two more were launched)," he added.
According to Lt. Col. Maynard Mariano, PAF spokesperson, the aircraft used for this mission were a newly acquired Embraer A-29B Super Tucano and an FA-50 fighter jet.
After the airstrikes, a running gunbattle ensued as the troops engaged the shocked enemies in a pursuit operation.
“From a purely combat operation, naging pursuit operation na so habulan na doon sa mga terrorists (it became a pursuit operation so they were running after the terrorists),” Linao said.
Initial information revealed that two enemies died while a soldier was also killed in action (KIA).
Four other soldiers were also wounded in the combat operations. The identities of the casualties were not immediately available as of posting time.
The military appealed to the residents to stay calm and refuse to entertain enemies who would ask for shelter.
“Ang panawagan lang natin sa mga communities, sir, is maging mahinahon lang. Stay put lang doon sa mga communities nila kasi malayo naman ito, sir, sa mga communities (We appeal to the in the communities to just stay calm. Just stay put in their communities because this is far from them),” Linao said.
“Baka nagaalala ‘yong mga counterparts natin ba, especially civilian communities. Malayo ito, sir, wala tayong namonitor so far na mga casualties doon sa civilian side (Our counterparts especially the civilian communities might be worried. This is far from them and we have not yet monitored any casualty on the civilian side),” he added.