Should Duterte seek US aid? ISIS taking slaves as battle for Marawi intensifies

Source from Sky News

Five weeks ago, militants loyal to Islamic State seized large parts of Marawi City in the southern Philippines.

As the conflict now enters its second month, government forces are still fighting to regain control.

The rebels have lost ground, but remain entrenched in what was the commercial heart of the city, with hundreds of civilians feared to be trapped and hiding among them.

Over four days in Marawi, Sky News watched the Philippine military carrying out repeated air strikes, bombers wheeling overhead and diving towards targets in the city.

The fighting is intense and sustained - mortars and helicopters mounted with machine guns are being used, as well as armoured personnel carriers and ground troops.

Philippine forces train to combat rebel groups in jungle conditions, but here they are facing close quarters, urban warfare, fighting street-to-street, at times house-to-house.

We saw armoured vehicles reinforced with planks of wood by their crews in an improvised attempt to withstand anti-tank weaponry and rocket-propelled grenades fired by the militants.

Sky News drone footage from inside rebel-held territory showed a mosque believed to be used as a base - local fighters are also said to have knowledge of tunnel networks and bomb shelters beneath the city.

The mosque has not been targeted by Philippine forces, but whole streets around it have been flattened. We saw large fires burning in the ruins.

One commanding officer told us some of the trapped civilians are being used as slaves and orderlies by the militants, with some being forced to wear black robes and act as human shields.

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As for the poll question, the US has already look committed on trying to interfere w/Syria.... Looking at the Philippines, despite President Duterte wanted to sever ties w/the US, should he seek the US help to get Marawi back under controlled?