MANILA, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Philippine security forces continued "to gain important foothold" in retaking the besieged southern Philippine city of Marawi from Islamic State-backed militants, a presidential spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Philippine troops continued to battle an estimated 100 militants who are still holed up in some parts of the city as the siege entered its 23rd day on Wednesday.
"Troops continue to gain foothold into the inner areas of terrorist-held areas," presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella told a news conference at the Malacanang presidential palace.
"Enemy resistance continues to dwindle and enemy-held areas are getting smaller as troops advance," he said.
Abella said that critical sectors in peripheral areas are now being cleared.
"Clearing operations continue to be positive, out of 96 (villages) only four remain as problematic areas and where focused military operations in urban terrain is currently ongoing," he said.
However, Abella said there are obstacles that are hampering the sealing operations. "Compounding development remains to be use of civilians as human shields and madrasahs and mosques as staging areas and safe havens," he said.
"This is where the problem lies," said Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, a military spokesman, referring to the difficulty the troops are facing in operating in an "urban terrain."
"In an urban terrain where civilians are still currently trapped and may possibly be used as human shields or may be hit by crossfire, troops have to be careful. We have to be very careful, we have to be very judicious, we have to be very deliberate so as to avoid hitting innocent lives," Padilla said.
Padilla added, "And this is where the slow process of liberating Marawi is currently happening. So, it will entail a bit of time before we clear every house of any armed element."
Since the militants attacked the city on May 23, the military said 290 people have been killed, including 206 militants, 58 soldiers and 26 civilians. The attack also prompted more than 200,000 residents to flee to nearby provinces.
But the military said there are still an estimated 300-600 civilians trapped in the city.
