Battle For The ISIS Held Philippine City Of Marawi -- News Updates June 15, 2017

DW: Marawi: Dozens of civilians feared dead in Philippine city

Residents fleeing Marawi have reported seeing scores of dead bodies after clashes between the military and Islamist fighters, a Philippine politician says. Many civilians remain trapped inside the besieged city.

Zia Alonto Adiong, a politician who is helping in local rescue efforts, told reporters Thursday that residents had seen "dead bodies, at least 100, scattered" in an area where intense clashes had taken place.

The military could not confirm the report.

Militants aligned with the "Islamic State" (IS) extremist group have laid siege to Marawi for more than three weeks. The fighting has displaced some 200,000 people and left the southern city in ruins.

Adiong said up to 1,000 people were still believed to be trapped in conflict-hit areas.

"Some residents are eating (cardboard) boxes. They just dip it in water to soften the material and eat it," he told Agence France-Presse. "It's heartbreaking. It's almost unbelievable to think that people are living this way."

Read more ....

Battle For The ISIS Held Philippine City Of Marawi -- News Updates June 15, 2017

'Hundred dead bodies' seen in besieged Marawi -- Al Jazeera
Philippine politician says residents report scores of bodies in embattled city -- Reuters
U.S. Troops in Besieged City of Marawi, Philippine Military Says -- New York Times
'At Least 100' Dead Bodies Were Seen By People Fleeing the Besieged Philippine City of Marawi, Official Says -- TIME
Philippine forces adopt strategy of destroying Marawi to save it -- The Straits Times
Philippines says U.S. troops near besieged Marawi, but not fighting -- Reuters
ISIS Marawi Siege: Philippines President Duterte Is Nowhere to be Seen as Islamist Fighters Take Over the City -- Newsweek
Christians Are Given Hijabs by Muslims in Marawi to Help Them Escape ISIS Militants -- Newsweek