Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte shakes hands with visiting U.S Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during a meeting at the presidential palace in Manila, Philippines on Aug. 7, 2017.

Erik De Castro / Reuters</s>The U.S. has been providing support to the Philippines in its fight against pro-ISIS militants who have besieged the southern city of Marawi and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Monday said the military has provided aircraft, a few drones, surveillance capabilities, intel and training.

The Pentagon is considering a plan that allows the US military to conduct airstrikes on ISIS in the Philippines.

“Direct military actions may only be allowed during the actual invasion of the Philippines by another state actor”, he added, referring to the Mutual Defense Treaty regulating military collaboration between the USA and the Philippines, a former American colony.

“Both officials, however, expressed their appreciation for the reported desire of the U.S.to help the Philippines fight Daesh/ISIS-inspired terrorists groups locally”, the DND added. It added that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also states that no such discussions have occurred at their level.

A militant group, however, slammed proposals for US-led airstrikes in the country.

According to the department of defense, the U.S. would allow the military to use armed drones against ISIS.

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said such airstrikes “will violate our national sovereignty and will run counter to the constitutional ban on foreign troops participating in combat operations in the Philippines”.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año said the military has “yet to receive any formal notice or offer for such air capability deployment”.

Once the United States military receives the approval to perform airstrikes against the existing ISIS targets in the Philippines, they will be able to help the Philippine army who are battling the terrorist group on the ground.

But he did say the US has been providing “some training and some guidance” to the Philippines in its fight against ISIS.

“A covenant must be had between the commanders in chief of both nations before that option may be adopted”, he said, quoted in local media.</s>The U.S. is reportedly preparing to conduct airstrikes against fighters linked to the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) in the Philippines, but Filipino officials deny knowing or having discussed any such plans.

The Pentagon was about to launch an official military operation that may be named as early as Tuesday, two defense officials told NBC News on Monday. The operations would bolster support for the Philippine army, which has been battling Islamist fighters linked to the Maute group and Abu Sayyaf militants since the end of May in the city of Marawi, on Mindanao island, in the southern part of the country.

However, multiple Filipino officials said they have no knowledge of such an operation. Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met on Monday, but presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella told local media that they did not discuss the subject, and a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense reiterated the matter had not been discussed.

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Separately, the Philippine Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año said such U.S. involvement in the fight in Marawi city would have to follow a specific process.

“A covenant must be had between the commanders in chief of both nations before that option may be adopted,” he said, quoted in local media. “Direct military actions may only be allowed during the actual invasion of the Philippines by another state actor,” he added, referring to the Mutual Defense Treaty regulating military collaboration between the U.S. and the Philippines, a former American colony.

The U.S. military first publicly acknowledged its involvement in military operations in the Philippines in June, saying that U.S. troops had been deployed at the request of Duterte—who subsequently denied knowing about the request or the troops’ presence.

The Americans have been assisting the Philippine military in the fight against Islamist militants since 2002, with the launch of the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines, which saw up to 600 U.S. military personnel in the country. While the operation officially concluded in 2015, a number of personnel remained in the Philippines to advise and assist the local forces. Lieutenant Colonel Jo-Ar Herrera said in June that the U.S. forces newly deployed in June would not be fighting but instead “providing technical support.”

Speaking to the press on Monday, Tillerson said the U.S. military provided “information” and “surveillance capabilities.” “We’re providing them some training and some guidance in terms of how to deal with an enemy that fights in ways that is not like most people have ever had to deal with,” he said.

Tillerson also referenced the transfer of “a couple of” drones and two Cessna C-208B Grand Caravan Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance aircraft that were delivered on July 27 to an air base in Pasay City.

The transfers, a statement from the Department of Defense said, were part of $33 million package to “provide equipment and training to improve Philippine counter-terrorism response capability.”

The Philippine military has already conducted airstrikes against the militants, although at least one missed its target and ended up killing government troops instead.

As ISIS is driven out of its strongholds in Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria, the ongoing siege in Marawi has become the new object of the group’s propaganda and funding. A first video attempting to recruit fighters to go to the Philippines was released in June. The latest recruitment video specifically addressed Muslims in Australia, Australian media reported on Tuesday.

According to the Filipino military, nearly 700 people have died so far in the battle for Marawi city, now in its 12th week. Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay, Joint Task Force Marawi spokesperson, said at least 528 militants have been killed in the battle, as well as 122 government soldiers and 45 civilians, local media reported on Tuesday.</s>The US military is reportedly contemplating on a plan that could allow them to hold several airstrikes on ISIS members who are operating in the Philippines.

In an interview with NBC News, two defense officials claimed that the authority to strike down the ISIS targets in the southern Philippine city of Marawi might be granted Tuesday. Armed drones might be used to execute the planned airstrikes.

Once the US military receives the approval to perform airstrikes against the existing ISIS targets in the Philippines, they will be able to help the Philippine army who are battling the terrorist group on the ground.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who dropped by Manila on Monday to talk to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte revealed that they will provide the local government with intelligence reports that will help them win the war against the ISIS.

"We're providing them some training and some guidance in terms of how to deal with an enemy that fights in ways that are not like most people have ever had to deal with," Tillerson stated. "I see no conflict at all in our helping them with that situation and our views of other human rights concerns we have with respect to how they carry out their counternarcotics activities."

Aside from their activities in the Philippines, other ISIS members reportedly joined forces with Taliban fighters in northern Afghanistan in a latest attack that killed dozens of soldiers and civilians on Sunday, Aug. 6.

According to reports, several Taliban soldiers planned the attack with local commander Sher Mohammed Ghazanfar who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State to take over he Mirza Olang area.

Reports cited the statement of Sayad district governor Sharif Aminyar, who claimed that a total of 50 people were killed during the attack. The number includes 18 members of the Afghan Local Police, while the rest were innocent civilians.

However, a Taliban spokesperson named Zabihullah Mujahid denied the claims that they are working with the ISIS. He also claimed that there are no civilian casualties during the attack.</s>Officials Say New Operation Could Be Announced Any Day Now

Pentagon officials say a discussion is ongoing about the possibility of granting US forces in the Philippine authority to conduct airstrikes against the nation’s ISIS affiliate, and that the announcement and naming of the new operation could happen within the next 24 hours.

ISIS affiliates have been active in the southern Philippines in recent months, seizing the city of Marawi and leading to a protracted battle with the Philippine military, which the US has been participating in in a limited role.

The US is always keen for deeper military involvement in the Philippines, especially as President Duterte was until very recently talking about his interest in getting the US military out of his country entirely. This could be just the pretext to get the US dug in even deeper.

Duterte had been courting ties with Russia and China, but now seems to be committed to the US, greeting Secretary of State Rex Tillerson by declaring himself to be America’s “humble friend in Southeast Asia.”
• Pentagon May Allow South Korea to Have Better Missiles - August 7th, 2017
• Lebanese Military: No Coordination With Syria in Anti-ISIS Push - August 6th, 2017</s>The Pentagon is considering a plan that allows the U.S. military to conduct airstrikes on ISIS in the Philippines, two defense officials told NBC News.

The authority to strike ISIS targets as part of collective self-defense could be granted as part of an official military operation that may be named as early as Tuesday, said the officials. The strikes would likely be conducted by armed drones.

Related: Duterte to Tillerson: 'I Am Your Humble Friend'

If approved, the U.S. military would be able to conduct strikes against ISIS targets in the Philippines that could be a threat to allies in the region, which would include the Philippine forces battling ISIS on the ground in the country's southern islands.

But Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Col. Christopher B Logan told NBC News Tuesday that "The Philippines have not requested nor is the U.S. planning drone strikes in the Philippines."

Another U.S. official said that the authorization for collective self-defense was more about intelligence sharing than offensive U.S. strikes.

“Collective self-defense doesn’t necessarily mean airstrikes,” the official said.

For example, if the U.S. sees a threat to the Philippine military, it could provide that intelligence to them to protect themselves.

The official would not rule out that the U.S. would be able to launch the strike themselves. The official also would not say whether the additional drones the U.S. is considering sending would be armed or not.

The U.S. military has been sharing intelligence with the Philippines for years, according to Pentagon spokesperson Capt. Jeff Davis, who called it a "steady state."

"We have had a consistent CT [counterterror] presence in the Philippines for fifteen years now," he said.

Related: Duterte Calls U.S. 'Lousy' And Vows Never to Visit

There is a small U.S. military presence on the ground supporting the counter-ISIS fight, called Joint Special Operations Task Force Trident.

In Manila on Monday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the U.S. was providing the Philippines government with "intelligence capabilities" in the fight against ISIS, including "some recent transfers of a couple of Cessnas and a couple of UAVs (drones) to allow to them to have better information with which to conduct the fight down there."

"We're providing them some training and some guidance in terms of how to deal with an enemy that fights in ways that are not like most people have ever had to deal with.

"I see no conflict at all in our helping them with that situation and our views of other human rights concerns we have with respect to how they carry out their counternarcotics activities."

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have linked Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to more than 1,400 extra judicial killings while a public official. The UN said that Duterte, as mayor of Davao City, had done nothing to stop extrajudicial killings.

Duterte has denied any role in the killings — while expressing support for them — but has also said he personally killed some suspected criminals, a claim his spokesman called an exaggeration.

Related: Duterte Says He Threw Rape Suspect Out of Helicopter, Would Do It Again

Last month, the vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs endorsed the idea of naming the mission in the Philippines, saying that naming it would provide more funding.

"In every case where we see the resurgence of terror networks," said Gen. Paul Selva in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, "particularly in the fragile areas of the southern Philippines, I think it's worth considering whether or not we reinstate a named operation, not only to provide for the resources that are required, but to give the Pacific Command commander and the field commanders in the Philippines the kinds of authorities they need to work with indigenous Philippine forces to actually help them be successful in that battle space."</s>The Pentagon is considering a plan that allows the U.S. military to conduct airstrikes on ISIS in the Philippines, two defense officials told NBC News.

The authority to strike ISIS targets as part of collective self-defense could be granted as part of an official military operation that may be named as early as Tuesday, said the officials. The strikes would likely be conducted by armed drones.

Related: Duterte to Tillerson: 'I Am Your Humble Friend'

If approved, the U.S. military would be able to conduct strikes against ISIS targets in the Philippines that could be a threat to allies in the region, which would include the Philippine forces battling ISIS on the ground in the country's southern islands.

The U.S. military has been sharing intelligence with the Philippines for years, according to Pentagon spokesperson Capt. Jeff Davis, who called it a "steady state."

"We have had a consistent CT [counterterror] presence in the Philippines for fifteen years now," he said.

Related: Duterte Calls U.S. 'Lousy' And Vows Never to Visit

There is a small U.S. military presence on the ground supporting the counter-ISIS fight, called Joint Special Operations Task Force Trident.

In Manila on Monday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the U.S. was providing the Philippines government with "intelligence capabilities" in the fight against ISIS, including "some recent transfers of a couple of Cessnas and a couple of UAVs (drones) to allow to them to have better information with which to conduct the fight down there."

"We're providing them some training and some guidance in terms of how to deal with an enemy that fights in ways that are not like most people have ever had to deal with.

"I see no conflict at all in our helping them with that situation and our views of other human rights concerns we have with respect to how they carry out their counternarcotics activities."

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have linked Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to more than 1,400 extra judicial killings while a public official. The UN said that Duterte, as mayor of Davao City, had done nothing to stop extrajudicial killings.

Duterte has denied any role in the killings — while expressing support for them — but has also said he personally killed some suspected criminals, a claim his spokesman called an exaggeration.

Related: Duterte Says He Threw Rape Suspect Out of Helicopter, Would Do It Again

Last month, the vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs endorsed the idea of naming the mission in the Philippines, saying that naming it would provide more funding.

"In every case where we see the resurgence of terror networks," said Gen. Paul Selva in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, "particularly in the fragile areas of the southern Philippines, I think it's worth considering whether or not we reinstate a named operation, not only to provide for the resources that are required, but to give the Pacific Command commander and the field commanders in the Philippines the kinds of authorities they need to work with indigenous Philippine forces to actually help them be successful in that battle space."</s>Trapped Filipino villagers are escorted by government troops during a rescue operation as fighting between Islamist militants and government forces continues in Marawi city, Mindanao island, southern Philippines on May 31, 2017. Francis R. Malasig / EPA file

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have linked Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to more than 1,400 extra judicial killings while a public official. The UN said that Duterte, as mayor of Davao City, had done nothing to stop extrajudicial killings.

Duterte has denied any role in the killings — while expressing support for them — but has also said he personally killed some suspected criminals,

Duterte Says He Threw Rape Suspect Out of Helicopter, Would Do It Again

Last month, the vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs endorsed the idea of naming the mission in the Philippines, saying that naming it would provide more funding.

“In every case where we see the resurgence of terror networks,” said Gen. Paul Selva in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, “particularly in the fragile areas of the southern Philippines, I think it’s worth considering whether or not we reinstate a named operation, not only to provide for the resources that are required, but to give the Pacific Command commander and the field commanders in the Philippines the kinds of authorities they need to work with indigenous Philippine forces to actually help them be successful in that battle space.”</s>The US is providing drones to the Philippines, but won't confirm whether they are armed. Source: Shutterstock

PENTAGON officials have revealed the United States is considering a plan that would allow the military to launch airstrikes against Islamic State-linked fighters in the Philippines.

Two defence officials reportedly told American broadcaster NBC News the US was considering airstrikes against the Maute Group fighters in Marawi City, which would likely be carried out by armed drones.

The move, if approved, would be on the basis of collective self-defence due to the threat posed to US allies in the region by IS-affiliated militants.

SEE ALSO: Philippines: Only empty communist schools to be bombed – Duterte

Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher B. Logan said “collective self-defence doesn’t necessarily mean airstrikes,” and that it was primarily about intelligence-sharing – for example providing information to the Philippines military to ensure they can protect themselves.

Nevertheless, Logan would not rule out the US would conduct airstrikes itself, nor whether additional drones provided to the Philippines would be armed, reported NBC News.

In Manila, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Monday: “We’re providing them some training and guidance in terms of how to deal with an enemy that fights in ways unlike most people have ever had to deal with.”

Last month, the US also conducted a joint patrol with the Philippines navy amidst fears militants sympathetic to IS would cross maritime borders from Malaysia and Indonesia to join Islamic rebels who seized Marawi City.

SEE ALSO: Ties between Southeast Asia and Bangladesh’s jihadis growing – report

“We have had a consistent CT [counterterror] presence in the Philippines for 15 years now,” another Pentagon spokesman, Capt. Jeff Davis told NBC News.

Wearing on now for the third month, the fighting in Marawi has killed 122 military and police personnel and 45 civilians according to data released by the Philippines government on Monday. Authorities claim 528 militants have been killed.

An estimated 30 to 40 gunmen are still holed up in Marawi, who are thought to be holding around 100 civilian hostages in a mosque.

Despite the continuing fighting, the Philippines government has begun its post-conflict appraisal.</s>Washington may launch a military operation that would allow the US military to conduct airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS, banned in Russia) positions in the Philippines, media reported, citing two defense officials.

According to the NBC broadcaster’s Monday report, the plan to start the operation, which is currently being considered by the US Department of Defense, may be announced later in the day.

The broadcaster also noted that the airstrikes are likely to be carried out by drones.

In the event the plan is approved, US servicemen will be authorized to attack militants who threaten US allies in the region, which include the Philippine Armed Forces that fight the IS threat on the ground.

The broadcaster cited Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis as saying that Washington and Manila has been sharing intelligence for quite some time, and that the Philippines has for 15 years been hosting US servicemen who support the state in its counterterrorism efforts.

In late July, the United States supplied the Philippines with two new Cessna 208B Grand Caravan intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, 1,040 rocket motors and 992 rockets to fight against terror. In addition, Manila is expected to receive 250 rocket-propelled grenade launchers from Washington.

On May 25, Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law on the southern island of Mindanao, which is often subjected to attacks by IS-linked terror groups. Marawi has remained the primary hotspot ever since the Maute group attempted to storm the city.
The Pentagon is considering conducting airstrikes in Marawi, which if approved would later put U.S. troops on the ground to battle the ISIS-affiliated Maute group as well as related Islamist terror groups. A spokesperson later denied the claims as well as clarified that the Philippines has yet to make a request.