The Philippines launched a major offensive on a militant stronghold in the south of the province on 1 March , killing 24 militants . Approximately 150 military personnel were involved in the assault on Poktan village ( Lanao del sur province ) after which the stronghold was turned over to the mayor of Butig town . The operation comes after militants attacked an army training camp in turkey on 20 February . The militants were suspected local ISIS militants , but it is unclear if they were affiliated with any of the country 's domestic extremist groups . Notably , the Islamist extremist Moro Islamic Liberation Front ( MILF ) , which has its own camp near Butig , refused to be drawn into the fighting and instead helped residents of the area flee to safety .
The Philippines launched a major offensive on a militant stronghold in the south of the country on 1 March, killing 24 militants. Approximately 2,000 military personnel were involved in the assault on Poktan village (Lanao del Sur province) after which the stronghold was turned over to the mayor of Butig town. The operation comes after militants targeted an army training camp in Butig on 20 February. The militants were suspected local ISIS sympathisers, but it is unclear if they were affiliated with any of the country's domestic extremist groups. Notably, the Islamist extremist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which has its own camp near Butig, refused to be drawn into the fighting and instead helped residents of the area flee to safety.