MANILA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Monday that nine soldiers were killed and 43 others wounded in "intense fighting" with Islamist militants in the southern Philippine Marawi City before the weekend.
Lorenzana said in a statement that Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, commanding general of the military's Western Mindanao Command, reported that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) "sustained nine killed and 43 wounded in action in one of the most intense fighting yet in the (Marawi) conflict." War continues to rage in Marawi City 63 days after extremists allied with the Islamic State (IS) fighters seized the city. The protracted fighting has so far claimed more than 600 persons, including 105 soldiers and policemen.
Lorenzana did not give details of what he described as "intense fighting" that took place on Friday. But in a news story that came out in the Philippine Daily Inquirer Sunday night, Galvez was quoted as saying that militants slipped into the government security forces' position and lobbed hand grenades.
The Inquirer report said that Galvez declined to comment when asked if a car bomb was used in the attack, saying it was an "operational matter."
The AFP has yet to issue an official statement of the Friday attack.
Lorenzana led a dialogue with local officials and displaced civilians in Iligan City on Sunday who are eager to return to their homes in Marawi. But Lorenzana said the military is against the idea.
"(Galvez) has pleaded with the (the evacuees) not to go back yet as there is still intense fighting in Marawi central business district where (terrorists) have chosen to make their last stand," Lorenzana said.
At Sunday's dialogue, Lorenzana said, "We ask for a little more understanding and patience as we deal with the remaining Maute/Daesh (IS) fighters who continue to put up stiff resistance."
