US and Philippines hold combat drills

Military allies: Members of the Philippine, Japanese, South Korean and US Marine carrying their national flags during the opening ceremony of the joint military exercises Kamandag at the Philippine Marine Corps headquarters in Taguig City, Metro Manila. — Reuters

More than 2,500 US and Philippine marines joined combat exercises to be able to respond to any sudden crisis in the region.

The annual military drills are some of the largest so far between the long-time treaty allies under newly elected Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.