The Armed Forces of the Philippines have been slugging it out with Maute militants for control of Marawi, in the southern Mindanao region of the Philippines.
The US is providing "technical assistance" to the Philippines to end a battle with militants linked to the Islamic State (IS), a Philippines military official said on Saturday.
A U.S. Navy aircraft provided surveillance for the local troops as the battle raged in Marawi on Friday, confirming the involvement of the U.S. military in helping to end the urban insurrection at the request of the Philippine government, Philippine military officials said.
Around 30 to 40 militants used civilians as human shields and positioned themselves in the city's mosques, army spokesman Edgard Arevalo said.
"At the request of the government of the Philippines, U.S. special operations forces are assisting the AFP with ongoing operations in Marawi that helps AFP commanders on the ground in their fight against Maute and ASG militants", the spokesperson said.
"At the request of the government of the Philippines, U.S. special operations forces are assisting the AFP with ongoing operations in Marawi that helps AFP commanders on the ground in their fight against Maute and ASG militants", a USA embassy spokesman told Reuters.
Col. Jo-Ar Herrera said USA assistance was limited to sharing of intelligence and technical support.
The sudden presence of U.S. forces in Marawi, site of a almost three-week siege by terrorist forces, reverses President Rodrigo Duterte's avowed independent foreign policy, and raises serious questions about America's role in the crisis, militant groups said Sunday. The U.S. will "continue to work with the Philippines to address shared threats to the peace and security of our countries, including on counterterrorism issues". At least 138 militants and 20 civilians had also been killed, the government said.
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Counter-protesters and civil rights advocates gathered in some cities to push back against the marches. During Saturday's protest, people who support Islam stood behind the group with some holding signs.
Ties between the United States and the Philippines have been strained since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in June a year ago.
"The local terrorist groups are using the mosque; they are entrenched there", he said.
'We believe the enemy has strong defensive positions, ' he said.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law in the Mindanao region, the southern third of the Philippines and home to a decades-long Muslim separatist rebellion.
"They are not fighting", he told a news conference. The AFP deployed some 4,000 ground forces backed by attack helicopters and air strikes.
"This is part of our tactical plan to neutralize all terrorists, including their supporters", Herrera said, referring to the arrests of the parents of Abdullah and Omar Maute, who were leading the militants.
Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. said in a news briefing the military would be commemorating Independence Day in the whole city of Marawi by waving the flag, as instructed by AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Año.
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