Marawi City (CNN Philippines, September 30) — The death toll in war-torn Marawi rises as government troops proceed with their final push to flush out Maute terrorists.
The military said 13 terrorists and two soldiers died in an encounter inside the main battle zone Friday, the 131st day of the Marawi crisis.
This brings the total number of fatalities to 749 on the enemy side and 155 government troops killed since May 23, when clashes between soldiers and terrorists began. Some 47 civilians have also been killed.
Joint Task Force Marawi Deputy Commander Col. Romeo Brawner said the rising death toll shows how intense the firefight is in the main battle area as the war nears its end.
The military is confident the Maute group’s defenses will fall in three days, and the war will end in 10 to 15 days. It said the fighting is now confined within eight to nine hectares of the battle zone.
Read more: Military sees end of Marawi siege in 15 days or less
It said the priorities remain the same – to rescue the remaining hostages and prevent the leaders, Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon, from escaping.
WATCH: Maute, Hapilon plan Marawi terror attack
