In Pictures

Marawi in ruins after battle against pro-ISIL fighters

The centre of the picturesque lakeside town was heavily damaged in a campaign of shelling and aerial bombing.

Flame rises as damaged buildings are seen after government troops cleared the area from pro-Islamic State militant groups inside a war-torn area in Marawi city, southern Philippines October 23, 2017. — Flames rise from damaged buildings after government troops cleared out pro-ISIL groups inside a war-torn area of Marawi City, in the southern Philippines. [Romeo Ranoco/Reuters]

The Philippines has declared victory over supporters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group in the southern city of Marawi.

Five months of urban combat left 920 fighters dead and cost the lives of 165 government soldiers and at least 45 civilians.

The government had teamed up with its former enemies from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in its attempts to snuff out the fighters.

Fighting ended when troops finally overcame pro-ISIL fighters, including foreigners, who were holed up in several buildings in the heart of the city.

Officials say martial law will continue to be implemented in the wider Mindanao area.

The end of the clashes gave way to scenes of a historic city in ruins with soldiers patrolling the gutted out and pockmarked remains of apartment blocks and houses.

Pictures taken after the battle reveal it devastating impact; buildings turned to rubble, cars dotted with bullet holes, and personal belongings and furniture heaped beside the shell of a row of houses.

More than 600,000 locals were displaced by the fighting.

The siege of Marawi and the later battle started when officials tried to serve an arrest warrant in May to Isnilon Hapilon, a commander in the Abu Sayyaf group, and Omarkhayam Maute of the Maute group.

Instead of giving up their arms, Hapilon formed an alliance with the Maute Group and launched a bloody rampage in the city.

Hapilon then declared his allegiance to the ISIL group, drawing support from foreign fighters from nearby Malaysia and Indonesia.

Soldiers on a military truck drive past houses and buildings damaged after government troops cleared the area from pro-Islamic State militant groups inside the war-torn Marawi city, southern Philippin — Soldiers on a military truck drive past houses and buildings damaged in the conflict. [Romeo Ranoco/Reuters]

Bombed-out buildings are seen inside the battle area of Bangolo district in Marawi on October 17, 2017. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on October 17 symbolically declared a southern city ''libera — Bombed-out buildings are seen inside the battle area of Marawi's Bangolo district. [Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images]

epa06271156 Filipino soldiers conduct patrol next to bombed-out buildings in the ruined city of Marawi, southern Philippines, 17 October 2017. The President of the Philippines declared the city of Mar — Filipino soldiers conduct patrols next to bombed-out buildings in the ruined city of Marawi. The president of the Philippines declared Marawi "liberated" after five months of fighting between the country's armed forces and rebels allied to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL, also known as ISIS). [Linus Escandor II/EFE/EPA]

A soldier''s rifle inside a military vehicle with bullet hole ridden windshield as troops get ready to leave the battle against IS-inspired militants on October 20, 2017 in Saguiaran town in Lanao del — A soldier's rifle is seen inside a military vehicle with a bullet-hole-ridden windshield as troops get ready to leave the battle against ISIL-inspired fighters in Saguiaran town in Lanao del Sur, southern Philippines. [Jes Aznar/Getty Images]

epa06271132 A Filipino soldier walks past bombed-out buildings in the ruined city of Marawi, southern Philippines, 17 October 2017. The President of the Philippines declared the city of Marawi liberat — A Filipino soldier walks past destroyed buildings. [Linus Escandor II/EFE/EPA]

epa06270732 Filipino soldiers conduct patrol in the ruined city of Marawi, southern Philippines, 17 October 2017. The President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte announced that the city of Marawi is — The fighting, which started May 23, left more than 1,000 people dead and at least 300,000 displaced. [Joeffrey Maitem/EFE/EPA]

In thisTuesday, Oct. 17, 2017, file photo, Philippine troops return to their deployment after attending the ceremony where President Rodrigo Duterte declared the liberation of Marawi city in southern — Filipino troops return to their deployment after attending a ceremony in which President Rodrigo Duterte declared an end to operations in Marawi. [Bullit Marquez/AP Photo]

A mosque with its dome blasted out with holes is seen at the battle-scarred Marawi city in southern Philippines Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. Two days after President Rodrigo Duterte declared the liberatio — A mosque with its dome damaged is seen in the battle-scarred Marawi City. Two days after Duterte declared the "liberation" of Marawi, the military announced the killing of more suspected fighters. [Bullit Marquez/AP Photo]

A soldier patrols the decimated streets of Marawi city, southern Philippines, after President Rodrigo Duterte declared its liberation almost five months since the siege by pro-Islamic State group mili — A soldier patrols the decimated streets of Marawi. Gunfire rang out sporadically and explosions thudded as Filipino soldiers fought to gain control of the last pocket of Marawi controlled by ISIL-linked fighters. [Bullit Marquez/AP Photo]

Amidst the ruins at "Ground Zero" Philippine troops return to their deployment after attending the ceremony wherein President Rodrigo Duterte declared the liberation of Marawi city in southern Philipp — Troops return to their deployment after the city's recapture. [Bullit Marquez/AP Photo]