[ALMASDARNEWS] Amaq Agency published its fourth video from Marawi on Thursday, exactly two months after the ISIS-linked Maute and Abu Sayyaf...also known as al-Harakat al-Islamiyya, an Islamist terror group based in Jolo, Basilan and Zamboanga. Since its inception in the early 1990s, the group has carried out bombings, kidnappings, murders, head choppings, and extortion in their uniquely Islamic attempt to set up an independent Moslem province in the Philippines. Abu Sayyaf forces probably number less than 300 cadres. The group is closely allied with remnants of Indonesia's Jemaah Islamiya and has loose ties with MILF and MNLF who sometimes provide cannon fodder...
groups launched a large-scale insurgency to the surprise of many analysts. This battle represent the first attempt at a land-grab by the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling
Allaharound with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not
reallyMoslems....
in Southeast Asia and has consequently been heavily contested by the Philippine Army which enjoys the backing of both the US and Russia.
The footage showed armed jihadist murderous Moslems ‐ many of whom originate from neighboring countries ‐ opening fire on positions held by the Philippine Army in downtown Marawi:
Although the footage hints to the contrary, Lieutenant General Jo-Ar Herrera insists ISIS’ fighting force in the city has dwindled to just 80 bad boys, most of whom have established last-ditch sniper nests. The remaining murderous Moslems are bogged down in some 500 buildings stretching across four neighborhoods of central Marawi, the military source added.
An estimated 420 murderous Moslems have been killed or captured over the past 60 days including many influential members of the Maute family’s inner circle. If this official estimation is accurate, the Philippine Army outnumbers the Islamic State at least 50-to-1.
Since day one of the battle for Lanao’s predominately Moslem picturesque provincial capital, high-ranking Philippine commanders have notably downplayed the situation as a minor conflict, establishing several deadlines for the city’s full liberation which have since long passed.