AFP, US, Australia conduct amphibious landing exercise in Palawan

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) conducted a large-scale amphibious landing exercise in Balabac, Palawan, as part of this year's Balikatan Exercises.

The training simulated the retaking of a strategic island, focusing on joint forcible entry operations, beachhead establishment, and inland objective securing.

This activity is part of the Maritime Key Terrain Security Operations (MKTSO), which aims to secure important coastal and littoral areas.

The exercise involved the AFP's 3rd Marine Brigade (3MBde) and showcased the growing interoperability and cohesion among partner nations.

Participating alongside the United States Armed Forces and the Australian Defence Force, the drills also had observers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and UK Royal Marines.

The AFP did not disclose the specific number of personnel and assets used for security reasons.