Australia joins fight against Islamists in the Philippines by sending surveillance planes

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Smoke billows are seen as government troops continue their assault against insurgents from the Maute group, who have taken over parts of Marawi city, Philippines. Australia is sending surveillance aircraft to join the fight against the militants. Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:25am, 23 Jun 2017Updated: 6:25am, 23 Jun 2017

Australia’s defence force said on Friday it will send two military surveillance aircraft to assist Philippine soldiers fighting Islamist militants, as the archipelago nation battles to regain control of its southern city of Marawi.

“The Government of the Philippines has accepted an Australian offer of two Australian Defence Force AP-3C Orion aircraft to provide surveillance support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said an emailed statement from Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne.

“The regional threat from terrorism, in particular from Daesh and foreign fighters, is a direct threat to Australia and our interests,” she said in the statement, referring to Islamic State by one of its Arab acronyms.

The seizure of Marawi five weeks ago by Islamist rebels and the security forces’ dogged fight to regain control of it has claimed 369 lives already, according to official estimates.

Philippine troops wait for deployment in the town of Pingcawayan, North Cotabato province, southern Philippines. Australia has dispatched surveillance aircraft to help in the fight against jihadist rebels. Photo: EPA

It has also alarmed Southeast Asian nations which fear Islamic State -- on a backfoot in Iraq and Syria -- is trying to set up a stronghold in the Muslim south of the mainly Roman Catholic Philippines that could threaten the whole region.