ISIS militants plotted to burn city to the ground to show power in the Philippines

It was a terrorist plot to burn a city of 200,000 people to the ground and ISIS militants were behind it, according to the Associated Press.

Philippines military officials tell NBC News it is close to retaking the southern city of Marawi. This is after ISIS extremists planned to burn the city to the ground in order to show how powerful the terrorist organization is.

See images of life in the city occupied by ISIS:

The violence started last week after the army raided the hideout of Isnilon Totoni Hapilon. He had been designated by ISIS as its leader in the country of more than 100 million. He's on Washington's list of most wanted terrorists.

Hapilon escaped. One hundred of his loyal gunmen descended on the city, setting fires and taking hostages.

The military has cleared about 70 percent of the city.

Experts warn that as ISIS weakens in Syria and Iraq, this area in the Philippines could become a focal point for ISIS aligned fighters.