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Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen announced that his country has offered an assistance to the Philippine Army in the battle of Marawi. Singapore offered to provide drones and urban warfare training for the Philippine soldiers.
The Singapore Defense Minister said the aim of the assistance is: “to enhance the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities” of the Philippine Army.
“We recognized that the area in Marawi and surrounding areas is very large. There are many islands. Surveillance is an issue,” he added.
The United States envoy to the Philippines announced yesterday that the United States will transport two C-208 aircrafts equipped with reconnaissance, intelligence and surveillance capabilities within two weeks.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is working to extend the duration of the martial law. He already confirmed in a letter to the Philippine Congress that the battle will not end on July 22, the date of the end of the martial law.
From its side, ISIS claimed that 11 Philippine soldiers were killed as a result of clashes in the Marinot and Liloud Madia districts in Marawi city during the last two days. It’s believed that at least 60 ISIS fighters still control parts of Marawi City.
