Australia sends spy planes to south Philippines

Australia will send two high-tech AP-3C Orion aircraft to fly missions over the southern Philippines to help in the fight against Islamic militants terrorising the area. - AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE/AFP/File

Sydney (AFP) - Australian military spy planes will start flying missions over the southern Philippines to help in the fight against Islamic militants terrorising the area, the government said Friday.

Fighters linked to the Islamic State (IS) group have been battling troops for a month around Marawi city in the Mindanao region in a conflict that has claimed hundreds of lives.