Manila - U.S. Special Operations Forces are assisting the Filipino military in its battle against ISIS-affiliated fighters, the U.S. embassy in Manila said Saturday. The forces have been deployed at the request of the government for "security reasons.", the embassy said. The embassy couldn't give specifics on the specific nature of the U.S. support for U.S. Special Operations Forces "have been providing support and assistance in response to Philippine government requests for many years," the embassy said. "As we have in the past, we routinely consult with our Filipino partners at senior levels to support the Duterte administration's counterterrorism efforts," the embassy said, referring to President Rodrigo Duterte. "The United States is a proud ally of the Philippines, and we will continue to work with the Philippines to address shared threats to the peace and security of our countries, including on counterterrorism issues."