International cooperation

Australia to send surveillance planes to help Philippines fight militants

Australia's defense 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.