According to the Philippines Military, U.S. forces were reportedly providing the country with technical assistance, but they had no "boots on the ground".
In his remarks during the 2016 Maritime Security Challenges in Victoria, British Columbia, Admiral Swift - who was a recipient of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal - also expressed concern about the potential return of ISIS fighters to Southwest Asia and whether they will take their brand of terrorism from land to sea.
The cooperation between the longtime allies in the battle is significant because Duterte, who came to power a year ago, has taken a hostile stance towards Washington and has vowed to eject USA military trainers and advisers from his country.
It said in a statement it was providing Philippine forces with security assistance and training in the areas of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a USA official said support included aerial surveillance and targeting, electronic eavesdropping, communications assistance and training. A US P-3 Orion surveillance plane was seen over the town on Friday.
The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines confirmed the move in a statement released to several media outlets.
The cooperation between the longtime allies is significant because Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who came to power a year ago, has taken a hostile stance towards Washington and has vowed to eject US military trainers and advisers from his country.
Thousands of Philippine soldiers, advised by USA special forces, are locked in fierce combat with hundreds of insurgents who overran Marawi city on May 23, flying black flags of the Islamic State (IS) group and using up to 2,000 civilians as human shields.
Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra fought back tears as he thanked troops, police and volunteers in the crisis that has turned parts of the previously tranquil lakeside city of more than 200,000 people, most of whom have fled the fighting, into a smoldering battlefield. Herrera said 13 marines conducting clearing operations died after an "intense" house-to-house firefight during which they encountered improvised explosive devices and were attacked by rocket-propelled grenades.
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The planes have collectively flown more than 95,000 flying hours, according to Reuters, but the plane has not yet seen combat. Luke is the largest F-35 base in the world and trains US pilots as well as those of allied countries.
The battle against the Maute group is on its third week, so far claiming the lives of 58 soldiers and policemen since the terrorists attacked the Muslim-majority city of Marawi on May 22.
When a band of militants led by Omarkhayam and one of his brothers over-ran a town in the southern Philippines on May 23, festooning its alleyways with the black banners of Islamic State, the Facebook description seemed appropriate. An estimated 500 to 1,000 civilians are trapped there, some being held as human shields, while others are hiding in their homes with no access to running water, electricity or food.
The Philippines is largely Christian, but Mindanao has a significant population of Muslims and Marawi City is overwhelmingly Muslim.
Herrera said the military was "validating" reports that the two Maute brothers who founded the group had been killed.
"Just a little more patience, but rest assured that we have enough forces, and this Maute-ISIS will not actually win", he said.
Meanwhile, other outlets who should know better like Reuters have reported that US Special Forces soldiers are advising in Marawi as if it is a new development.
The Marawi siege also heralds the rise of Isnilon Hapilon, a longtime leader of Abu Sayyaf who had grown more ideologically minded over the years. Some of the marines perished in a fire ignited by the militants at the height of the fighting, military officials said.
As the fighting wears on, deadline after deadline set by the Philippines government for the end of the conflict has been missed, including a pledge to finish the fighting by Monday, the country's Independence Day.
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