(VOVworld) - The United States is helping its Southeast Asian allies to prevent the Islamic State group from gaining a greater foothold in the area.

US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter (L) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joe Dunford testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on September 22, 2016 (Source: www.bangkokpost.com)

General Joe Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that the United States is working closely with its Southeast Asian partners. The mutual aim is to develop a framework within which they can share intelligence and information on extremist groups. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said he was meeting with regional Defense Ministers next week at a summit in Hawaii and IS would be one subject of discussion. According to Carter, Southeast Asia clearly is a place IS aspires to spread.

IS is currently operating in some Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines, causing fears of attacks and recruitment for holy wars in Iraq and Syria.