MANILA, Philippines — Philippine troops have killed at least 11 remaining militants aligned with the Islamic State group over the weekend in southern Marawi city and are attempting to determine whether a Malaysian who may have taken over the militants’ leadership is still alive, officials said Monday. “Clearing operations are focused on the remaining areas of Marawi believed to hold terrorist stragglers fighting for survival and hiding out in the hope of escaping the main battle area,” Padilla said. On Sunday, Philippine authorities arrested Maute’s Indonesian wife, Minhati Madrais, who was with her six children in a village in Iligan city, less than an hour’s drive from Marawi. Madrais is among the suspected militants and supporters who were ordered arrested after President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in the south in May to deal with the Marawi siege. The Marawi siege reinforced fears that the Islamic State group is attempting to gain a foothold in Southeast Asia through local militants amid major battle setbacks in Syria and Iraq.

Source: National Post November 06, 2017 12:41 UTC