Philippines confirms US forces assisting local troops to end city siege

The Philippine military on Saturday confirmed that US special forces were assisting local troops to end a siege of the southern city of Marawi by militants allied to ISIL, but said they were only providing technical support, Reuters reported.

"They are not fighting. They are just providing technical support," military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jo-Ar Herrera said during a news conference.

A spokesperson at the US Embassy said that the Philippine government had sought US assistance in the battle for Marawi City on the island of Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Herrera said the military was validating reports that two brothers leading the Maute militant group were killed in the battle for control of Marawi, adding that there are strong indications.

(CGTN)