The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday confirmed that it sought the assistance of the United States as Filipino troops continue to battle Islamist militants in Marawi City.

“We asked for their (Americans’) assistance because we do not have the kind of technical capability we sought. If we had it, we would not have done so,” Brig.Gen. Restituto Padilla, spokesman of the AFP, said in a text message.

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