Australia offers to train Philippine troops to fight Marawi militants

SYDNEY: Australia yesterday offered to train the Philippines military to tackle Islamic militants terrorising parts of the country, calling the threat “deeply concerning”.

Philippine forces have been besieging militants in the southern city of Marawi for almost 100 days.

But the gunmen, flying the Islamic State group’s black flag, have defied military assaults, including airstrikes and artillery barrages.

Australia, which has an extensive defence cooperation programme with Manila, had deployed two high-tech AP-3C Orion aircraft for surveillance, and was keen to provide further help.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she recently spoke to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who wanted to bolster resources for his armed forces.

“We would be ready to support the Philippines in the same way we are supporting Iraq in advising, assisting and training,” she said.

“We indicated what we have been doing in Iraq.

“I went through with the president in some detail the support we have given in Iraq, which does not include troops on the ground. That is advising and assisting.”

Australia is part of the coalition fighting IS in Iraq and Syria, with 780 defence personnel based in the Middle East.

Bishop said it was “deeply concerning ” for the Asian region that IS had a presence in the southern Philippines, with the United States, Malaysia and Indonesia also offering support.

Duterte declared martial law across Mindanao island, home to 20 million people, on May 23 immediately after fighters flying the IS flag rampaged through Marawi.

Their assault on the city ignited an unprecedented urban war, which Duterte has warned is part of an IS campaign to establish a base in Mindanao.