After victory in Marawi, Philippine troops will receive training in urban warfare from Australian military
Defence chiefs in the Philippines on Monday declared victory after a five-month battle that claimed more than 1,100 lives and destroyed large parts of the city
Australia will train Filipino soldiers in urban warfare to combat the spread of Islamic extremism after months of fierce fighting against militants in the southern Philippines, it was announced on Tuesday.
Canberra has since September been helping Manila battle local supporters of Islamic State (IS) in the southern city of Marawi, deploying two AP-3C Orion aircraft for surveillance while helping in information-gathering and analysis.
Defence chiefs in the Philippines on Monday declared victory after a five-month battle that claimed more than 1,100 lives and destroyed large parts of the city.
While the victory ended immediate fears IS would establish a Southeast Asian base in Marawi, concerns remain about its longer-term intentions and capabilities for the region.
Australia has experience tackling the group in Iraq and Syria and Defence Minister Marise Payne said it was crucial the Philippines had the expertise to keep extremists at bay now that the key fight had been won.
She said Canberra would immediately send teams composed of 80 troops to provide urban warfare counterterrorism training at Philippine military bases.
Globally we have seen the effect of extremist ideology and terrorist threats on millions of civilians and it is alarming to see this disruption come to our region