ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Updated 5:04 p.m.) — The military launched surgical airstrikes on selected targets where the Maute militants were holed up in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur on Thursday. The airstrikes were followed by surgical operations by elite forces from the Special Operations Command. Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson of Western Mindanao Command, did not specify the targets of the airstrikes nor the aircraft used, but said they were launched against areas where Maute militants were holed up. Petinglay said the air attack was launched after troops made sure there were no civilians left in the target area. She said surgical ground assaults had also been ongoing in other places in the city where the Maute militants were hiding.

Source: Philippine Star May 25, 2017 08:11 UTC