Around 600 Philippine and US troops are holding mock firing attacks in the final exercise of their 2-week joint drills. The troops fired mortars and practiced flying Sea Knight helicopters. The aircraft are normally deployed for combat support, transport of troops, and search-and-rescue operations.

Participating soldiers fire a mortar during the Philippines-U.S. joint live fire exercises of the annual Amphibious Landing Exercise 2013 (PHIBLEX) at Crow Valley in Tarlac, the Philippines, Oct. 16, 2012. [Xinhua]

The bilateral drill takes place annually under a mutual defense agreement. The exercise is said to ensure regional security and improving the two countries' humanitarian assistance and disaster response and relief operations. Although the exercises come amid the Philippines' ongoing tension with China, both countries say the war games are not directed to any other country.

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