Westmincom: Troops use precision strikes to minimize disruption of Ramadan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines —  The military has been launching precise and deliberate strikes against the Islamic State-inspired Maute group in Marawi City to minimize the disruption of the observance of Ramadan, the Western Mindanao Command said.

 

Muslim troops also deferred the observance of Ramadan to help address the crisis as soon as possible.

 

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Westmincom chief, said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Muslim soldiers are usually given breaks to observe Ramadan. 

 

However, with the declaration of martial law and the continuous fighting to clear the city of Maute militants, that break has had to be deferres.

 

“Our Muslim soldiers, for now, need to give their share of sacrifices in order to make sure that Muslims from Marawi can soon go back to their homes and observe Ramadan," Galvez said.

 

He said security forces in Marawi have also been ordered to secure areas around mosques to allow the Muslim faithful to visit and observe Ramadan.

 

Ramadan is the most holy month in Islam, when all able-bodied Muslims are expected to fast from dawn to sunset. According to the Darul Ifta' of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Muslims observing Ramadan should "not quarrel, have disputes, indulge in arguments, use bad words, or do anything that is forbidden."

 

ARMM officials and Lanao del Sur Vice Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. on Saturday said 90 percent of the city's more than 200,000 residents have already managed to evecuate to safer areas.

Galvez said that the amred forces have been constrained to launching airstikes against identified and specific targets occupied by the Maute group militants.

 

"It is in this light that there is a need to deliberately employ forces and air assets to target with precision selected, identified, and already isolated terrorist locations," Galvez said.

 

 

Ground forces reported fighting, which began on Tuesday, are not confined to one area of the city as the militants have been moving around.