Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia team up against Islamist terror

The three countries, which set up a pact to fight Islamist terror on June 22, have launched lateral naval patrols of their border waters. They are watching with grave concern the battles raging against the Islamic State for control of Marawi City in southern Philippines Mindanao. Fearing further Islamist expansion, Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia agreed to “to share information, track communications, and crack down on the flow of arms, fighters, and money,” while developing counterterrorism strategies against what they contend is the biggest security threat facing Southeast Asia in decades, the establishment of Islamic State bases in the region from the hub already going up in Mindanao. Australia has sent two spy planes to help the Manila government’s five-week campaign to liberate Marawi City.