Australian troops set to help train the Philippines military in counter terror warfare to stop Islamic State

AUSTRALIAN Diggers could be deployed to the Philippines as a new Islamic State battlefront opens up in South East Asia.

EXCLUSIVE.

Australian soldiers could be deployed to the Philippines to help train counterparts in urban warfare like they have in Iraq, amid fears a rise in extremism and the return of Islamic State fighters could spark widespread unrest in South East Asia.

The move comes as the conflict in Marawi City in the Philippines’ southern province of Mindanao against ISIS-backed rebels enters its third month and warnings hundreds of ISIS fighters were regionally amassing to declare a new caliphate.

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Soldiers from the 1st Field Artillery Battalion fire 105mm Howitzer shells into the township of Marawi in an attempt to kill the militants who are still in the town. Picture: Gary Ramage

The conflict, expected to have ended in days, has now been raging since May 23 with 420 terrorists, 100 military and 45 civilians so far killed and President Rodrigo Duterte forced to impose curfews and martial law over all of southern Philippines until at least the end of the year.

A poster of the most wanted militants. The Battle of Marawi is ongoing between the Philippines Army and the ISIS terrorists. Picture: Gary Ramage

The RAAF has confirmed two of its P-3 Orion spy aircraft have now conducted missions over Marawi with more missions to come, at the Filipino Government’s request, but the training of soldiers would represent a dramatic escalation in regional military engagement and gives overdue recognition the contagion of ISIS-led extremism and violence could destabilise the region.

Defence Minister Marise Payne condemned the ISIS-inspired attacks in Marawi and said Australia was standing by its ally Philippines.

Soldiers head back to the frontlines in Marawi. Picture: Gary Ramage

“The siege of Marawi City by Daesh-affiliates poses a threat to Australia’s interests and regional security,” she told News Corp Australia.

“As Daesh (ISIS) comes under increasing pressure in Iraq and Syria, Australia will continue to work with its partners and allies across the region to prevent foreign fighters from spreading their toxic extremism to the Indo-Pacific.”

Philippine government security forces and affiliated militants of the Islamic State including the Maute and Abu Sayyaf Salafi jihadist groups are still fighting. Picture: Gary Ramage

She said the Orion aircraft continued its mission, building on Australia’s extensive program of regional counter-terrorism capacity building and engagement and she was standing by if asked to do more.

Soldiers head back to the front lines in Marawi. Hundreds have lost their lives so far and thousands of civilians are now displaced. Picture: Gary Ramage

“Australia will continue to review its commitment in consultation with the Government of the Philippines,” she added.

It is understood the Defence Department and Australian Defence Force have been anticipating a request for specialist training and was drawing up a contingency plan.

About 300 ADF personnel have since May 2015 trained more than 23,000 Iraqi Security Forces in urban warfare, including close quarter and street-by-street combat and maximising the use of canon-mounted armoured personnel carriers.

Soldiers stop and inspect all vehicles and check peoples ID's at military checkpoints leading into Marawi. Picture: Gary Ramage

No formal request has been made but Filipino military brass have noted their troops’ lack of urban warfare skill, over what has been a generation of jungle warfare operations particularly about the restive militant south.

But they have now publicly noted Australia’s experience in training troops in Iraq and Afghanistan for urban conflict made them best placed to lead that style of training.

Joint Task Force Marawi spokesman Lt Colonel Jo-Ar Herrera said: “The Australian government is a generous country and is very helpful to the Philippines especially the armed forces and military-to-military undertakings.

Two soldiers at military checkpoints leading into Marawi. Picture: Gary Ramage

“Australia and the Philippines have a strong commitment in terms of education, training subject matter, experts intelligence sharing, military assistance engagement and exchanges. These are crucial and there should be a better approach in dealing with this warfare, we can believe the more we go together the more we exchange training, the more we become a better armed forces because of the sharing of best practices in order for us to adapt to fighting the enemy.”

Lt Col Hubert Acierto, commanding officer of the 1st Field Artillery Battalion, also on the Marawi frontline also believed Australia could help.

Soldiers from the 1st Field Artillery Battalion fire 105mm Howitzer shells into the township of Marawi in an attempt to kill the militants who are still in the town. Picture: Gary Ramage

“Before, more of the fighters were staying in the jungles in the mountains but probably they were influenced by the foreign terrorists to now use urban areas,” the officer who had performed a training course with the ADF in Canberra said.

“Our Army is not that prepared for this, we have one unit trained for urban but it is a small unit, I believe you guys are better trained in this area with your work in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Air strikes and constant automatic gun fire can be seen and heard from 2km away from Marawi as soldiers try to take back the town from IS militants. Picture: Gary Ramage

News Corp Australia has learned first hand reports that for as little as 2000 Filipino pesos (about AUD$50) whole families were being recruited to support ISIS with promises of more money if they recruit others.

ISIS fighters, under the Katibah al-Muhajir (Brigade of the Migrant) banner were targeting the poor areas of Mindanao as well as in Malaysia and Indonesia to rally support. In Marawi, troops have seized more than 500 military-grade firearms, anti tank mines and rocket propelled grenades that the Filipinos said were being smuggled in across the Sulu Sea from the Asian black market.