Australia and Southeast Asian countries have joined forces to try and choke financing for militant networks, Australia’s justice minister said on Wednesday, amid concerns about Islamic State gaining a foothold in the region. The recent assault by ISIS-aligned fighters on the Philippine city of Marawi has left more than 300 people dead, exposing the shortcomings of local security forces and the extremist group’s spreading reach in a region where counterterrorism gains are coming undone. It seems that Southeast Asia may be the new destination of terrorists, who have suffered a series of defeats in Iraq and Syria. The leaders of these organizations have indeed started to transfer what remains of their funds and members to several of the region’s countries, writes Emile Amin for Al-Awsat.