The U.S. Embassy in Manila said without elaborating that U.S. special operations forces were providing help to Filipino troops battling Islamic militants in Southern Philippines.
U.S. Navy aircraft were observed providing surveillance for the local troops as the battle raged in Marawi. The aircraft flew above rocket-firing Philippine helicopters that struck militant positions causing plumes of smoke to billow skyward.
The embassy said in a statement, “The United States is a proud ally of the Philippines, and we will continue to work with the Philippines to address shared threats to the peace and security of our countries, including on counter-terrorism issues.”