Philippine Troops Begin Campaign to Retake City From Islamist Militants

Philippine troops entered a besieged city on the southern island of Mindanao Thursday to begin clearing out Islamist militants who virtually took control earlier this week. Two military helicopters flew above the city’s rooftops as armored tanks rolled through its neighborhoods amid sporadic gunfire and explosions.  Many of Marawi’s 200,000 citizens are fleeing to safety. The crisis began late Tuesday when Philippine security forces launched a mission to arrest militant leader...

© La Voix de l'Amérique - jeudi 25 mai 2017