DATU SALIBO, Philippines: The Philippines’ largest Muslim militant group has launched a deadly offensive against a splinter faction that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, police said Saturday. Clashes between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and its offshoot, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), took place on Friday and Saturday, with six fighters from the original group killed. The fighting comes as the military fought a near three-month battle in Marawi, a Muslim city 100 kilometers (62 miles) to the north. The fighting in Marawi is being led by two other Muslim rebel factions, the Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf. The Marawi battle has left 573 militants and 128 soldiers and police dead, along with at least 45 civilians, according to an official tally.

Source: Manila Times August 19, 2017 12:00 UTC