Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared victory over Islamic State (IS)-linked extremists that took over the southern city of Marawi in May, ending nearly five months of fierce fighting that have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced thousands.
„Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby declare Marawi City liberated from the terrorist influence that marks the beginning of rehabilitation,“ Duterte said in a speech to the troops and officials in Marawi.(…)
Among the remaining six to eight foreign terrorists is Malaysian Mahmud Ahmad, the alleged financier of the terrorist group with links to IS jihadist group in the Middle East, he said.