Australia has offered to send troops to help train the military in the Philippines for its fight against Islamic extremists.
The role would be similar to the help Australia is providing Iraq in the fight against Islamic State, which is looking to expand into the southern Philippines.
Australia already has sent two surveillance planes to help the Philippines.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Tuesday said she had outlined to President Rodrigo Duterte what support Australia was giving Iraq but he had yet to respond to the offer.
‘It is a very dangerous fight but Australia has already offered – and is supplying – support to the Philippines and we stand ready to assist should they require more,’ she told an audience in Canberra.
‘Obviously, we would be ready to support the Philippines in the same way we are supporting Iraq in advising, assisting and training as the armed forces [in] Philippines are in the process of engaging in a pretty brutal fight with ISIS.’
Australia has offered to send troops to help train the Philippine military for its fight against Islamic State (pictured), which is looking to expand into the country’s south
Ms Bishop’s comments come just days after Australian Secret Intelligence Service boss Nick Warner (left) was bizarrely pictured posing with a clenched fist beside the controversial President Rodrigo Duterte (right)
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (pictured) on Tuesday said she had outlined to President Rodrigo Duterte what support Australia was giving Iraq but he had yet to respond to the offer
The United States, Malaysia and Indonesia had also made offers to help, Ms Bishop said.
The Philippines government was taking the fight against ISIS very seriously but was yet to identify what aid its own forces might need.
Over the weekend a graphic propaganda video produced by ISIS in the Philippines was released.
The video labelled Australia the ‘regional guard dog’ of the US and made a general call for jihad.
The video highlights Australia’s role in the conflict which has engulfed the southern Phillipines city of Marawi since May, and calls the air campaign waged against it ‘malicious’.
Claiming the actions of its enemies will only attract more Muslims to the cause, ISIS militants in the video call on their followers across Southeast Asia to join them in holy war.
A propaganda and recruitment video (pictured) produced by ISIS in the Philippines labels Australia the ‘regional guard dog’ of the US alongside a general call for Jihad
Only days after the graphic video was produced, Australian Secret Intelligence Service boss Nick Warner travelled to Manila to meet President Rodrigo Duterte.
The two met to discuss regional security issues, with the battle against Islamist militants in Marawi at the top of the agenda.
During his visit, Mr Warner was bizarrely pictured posing with a clenched fist beside the controversial president.
Warner’s actions have been met with a wave of criticism, with many condemning his apparent support of a man who has killed thousands of drug users, including 80 in three days this month, in an attempt to ‘clean up’ his country.
Australia has been contributing to the fight against ISIS (pictured) on the southern Philippines island of Mindanao
Claiming the actions of its enemies will only attract more Muslims to the cause, ISIS militants in the video (pictured) call on their followers across Southeast Asia to join them in holy war
Mr Warner’s trip followed Australia’s formal listing of Islamic State in East Asia as a terrorist organisation.
The ISIS video, which is narrated in English, shows ISIS militants vandalising a church and tearing up photos of the Pope.
‘After soldiers of the Taghut [Infidel government] were left embarrassed and demoralised, Duterte ran to his masters, the defenders of the cross, America, along with their regional guard dog Australia and begged them for help,’ says the narrator.
‘And this is a message which we direct to our Muslim brothers in East Asia, specifically those in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and Singapore,’ says an insurgent from Marawi called Abul Yamaan.
‘And this is a message which we direct to our Muslim brothers in East Asia, specifically those in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and Singapore,’ says an insurgent from Marawi called Abul Yamaan (pictured)
ISIS fighters (pictured) are shown engaged in fierce urban combat in the streets of Marawi
The video is graphic and well-produced, and has provoked fears it will inspire people to join the militants (pictured)
‘Come forth to the land of Jihad. Come forth to dar-al-Islam in Marawi.’
Malaysian counter-terrorism chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay is concerned that the video could prove effective in enticing people to join ISIS.
He told Channel News Asia it could, ‘inspire followers in Malaysia, Indonesia – all of Southeast Asia – to go to southern Philippines to wage Jihad.’
Indonesian National Police spokesman Setyo Wasisto said the video was being examined to see whether any Indonesian fighters were present, and said authorities were trying to prevent ISIS followers travelling to the conflict zone.
The Philippines armed forces have been supported by other militant groups opposed to ISIS, such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (pictured)
The ISIS video, which is narrated in English, shows ISIS militants vandalising a church (pictured) and tearing up photos of the Pope
Malaysian counter-terrorism chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay is concerned that the video (pictured) could prove effective in enticing people to join ISIS
Fighters from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Yemen and India are among the foreign fighters killed since the conflict erupted in late May.
Previously, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull declined to confirm if Australia would send ground troops if asked, but said the country is committed to fighting ISIS.
‘We are determined to ensure that ISIL does not establish a foothold in our region. We have a very strong vested interest in ensuring that the ISIL insurgency in the Southern Philippines in Marawi is defeated,’ he said.
The Philippines armed forces have been battling ISIS militants in Marawi since May 23, when hundreds of fighters occupied buildings and took hostages.
They have been supported by other militant groups opposed to ISIS, such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
President Rodrigo Duterte (pictured) met ASIS boss Nick Warner to discuss regional security issues, with the battle against Islamist militants in Marawi at the top of the agenda.