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| Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) AP-3C Orion |
Australian spy planes to help the Philippines in fight against IS
CANBERRA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Defense Minister on Friday confirmed that state-of-the-art Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) spy planes will fly intelligence missions over the southern parts of the Philippines to assist local forces in the fight against Islamic State in the region.
CANBERRA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Defense Minister on Friday confirmed that state-of-the-art Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) spy planes will fly intelligence missions over the southern parts of the Philippines to assist local forces in the fight against Islamic State in the region.
In a statement on Friday, Defense Minister Marise Payne said that two of the RAAF's AP-3C Orion aircraft would provide aerial intelligence support to the local armed forces, as they continue to try and drive IS from Marawi City, which is located inland in the north-west part of Mindanao island.
"The regional threat from terrorism, in particular from (Islamic State) and foreign fighters, is a direct threat to Australia and our interests. Australia will continue to work with our partners in South East Asia to counter it," Payne said in an official statement.
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Philippines welcomes Australia's offer to send surveillance planes
MANILA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines expressed on Friday its welcome to Australia's offer to send its intelligence-gathering planes to help the country crush the militants allied with the Islamic State (IS) in the southern Philippine city of Marawi.
MANILA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines expressed on Friday its welcome to Australia's offer to send its intelligence-gathering planes to help the country crush the militants allied with the Islamic State (IS) in the southern Philippine city of Marawi.
Ernesto Abella, President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman, told a news conference in Davao City that the Philippines welcomes Australia's offer, adding that the Philippine government "would gladly welcome any form of foreign assistance allowed under our constitution to help suppress the rebellion in Marawi."
Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne said in a statement that Australia will send two of its advanced intelligence-gathering AP-3C Orion planes to help the Philippine military crush the remaining Islamist militants allied with the IS in the besieged southern Philippine city of Marawi.
Brig. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, the deputy commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command, lauded the deployment of Australian surveillance aircraft, stressing the importance of intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capability in the military operations.
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