Exchange of fire between Philippine soldiers, ISIS-linked militants leaves eight dead

Philippine military forces engaged in a gunbattle with Dawlah Islamiyah militants in the southern Lanao del Norte province, resulting in six soldiers and two rebels dead, with four soldiers wounded.

The Dawlah Islamiyah, linked to the Islamic State group, was targeted following a bombing in Marawi city that killed four people and wounded 50.

Separatist groups like Dawlah Islamiyah continue to pose a challenge in the southern region of Philippines, homeland of minority Muslims in the largely Catholic nation.