Pentagon may boost support for Philippine counter-IS ops

Washington: The United States is weighing additional support to the Philippine military as it fights an insurgency in the south, a US defence official said.

Discussions are “pretty advanced” and would see the United States provide increased surveillance drone capabilities and training for local forces, the official said on con- dition on anonymity.

The drones could hypothetically be used to conduct strikes, the official added, although that would only be for self-defence reasons to protect US or partner forces, and would not signal another front in America’s drone wars.

“It’s not necessarily what those (drones) are there for. Those are there for ISR and support,” the official said, using an abbreviation for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

The Philippines’ Department of National Defence said there had been no discussions regarding the use of US drones to strike IS-inspired “terrorist groups”.

Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Chris Logan said all military assistance in the Philippines is conducted at the request of the government.

“We respect the sovereignty of the Philippines, and we are not pursuing unilateral action in the Philippines,” he said.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has asked lawmakers to approve the recruiting of 20,000 more soldiers to tackle increased security threats following a bloody urban siege in the south.

Almost 700 people have been killed, according to the official count, in over two months of fighting in the southern city of Marawi against militants who have pledged allegiance to the IS group. — AFP