Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (Photo: themalaymailonline.com)Hanoi (VNA) – Malaysia,Indonesia, and the Philippines are set to launch joint patrols in waters offMindanao island of the Philippines in late June to counter threats from IslamicState (IS) group.
Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Husseinannounced the information on June 3 during the ongoing Shangri-La 16 Dialoguein Singapore.
He added that the sea patrols will begin in thewaters bordering the three nations on June 19, with air patrol to be launched onJune 20.
Security analysts said IS was planning to set upa base in Mindanao island as part of its efforts establishing an Islamic statein Southeast Asia.
Mindanao is an area where Islamist militantgroups are still able to operate with some freedom of operation, run trainingcamps, and conduct frequent attacks. It is also the location where the vastmajority of extremist groups that have pledged allegiance with the IS arebased.
Previously, the three Southeast Asian countrieswere successful in implementing joint patrols in Malacca Straits to fight maritime piracy.
According to analysts, the maritime bordersbetween the three countries make it hard to detect the movement of militants.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue, defense ministers ofparticipating countries also warned of threats in the region posed by returningIS militants who were fighting in Iraq and Syria.-VNA
Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Husseinannounced the information on June 3 during the ongoing Shangri-La 16 Dialoguein Singapore.
He added that the sea patrols will begin in thewaters bordering the three nations on June 19, with air patrol to be launched onJune 20.
Security analysts said IS was planning to set upa base in Mindanao island as part of its efforts establishing an Islamic statein Southeast Asia.
Mindanao is an area where Islamist militantgroups are still able to operate with some freedom of operation, run trainingcamps, and conduct frequent attacks. It is also the location where the vastmajority of extremist groups that have pledged allegiance with the IS arebased.
Previously, the three Southeast Asian countrieswere successful in implementing joint patrols in Malacca Straits to fight maritime piracy.
According to analysts, the maritime bordersbetween the three countries make it hard to detect the movement of militants.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue, defense ministers ofparticipating countries also warned of threats in the region posed by returningIS militants who were fighting in Iraq and Syria.-VNA
VNA
