JAKARTA/MANILA -- The Indonesian military is beefing up security on Indonesian islands close to the southern Philippines to prevent the spread of influence of Islamic State-aligned militants, who are trying to take over Marawi city on the southern Phillipine island of Mindanao. Over 300 people have died in the nearly month-long battle, which is still raging on.
Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, commander of the Indonesian armed forces, known as TNI, on Thursday said troops had been dispatched to northern Indonesian regions and small islands close to Mindanao.
