Islamic State group-linked militants planned but failed to attack another southern Philippine city shortly after troops crushed their siege of Marawi last year, the leader of the country's largest Muslim rebel group said Tuesday. He made the comments at a forum with foreign news correspondents, stressing how his group has helped battle terrorism. Last year, Murad said his group lost 24 fighters who were defending rural communities from breakaway militants who have aligned with the Islamic State group. The rebels have been fighting since the 1970s for Muslim self-rule in Mindanao in an insurrection that has killed about 150,000 combatants and civilians. The United States and other Western governments have backed the autonomy deal, partly to prevent the insurgency from breeding extremists.

Source: ABC News February 20, 2018 07:17 UTC