Australia offers more assistance to PH military

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (Photo by AARON FAVILA/AP)

CANBERRA, Australia—Australia’s foreign minister says the Australian government has offered to help train the Philippine military in its fight against extremists linked to the Islamic State group.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Tuesday said that Australia was prepared to send additional help in the form of training the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Australia has already sent surveillance planes to help the Philippines, where the southern city of Marawi has been under siege for months by Islamic State-linked militants.

READ: Aussie spy planes to join fray

In a recent video, the Islamic State group singled out Australia and the U.S. as key backers of the Philippines military offensive in Marawi. JPV