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NEW YORK – At 5:30 am on May 25, 2017 in the Pakitul area of Sulu, Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) militants opened fire on the Philippine troops sent to search for them. A military spokesman reported 11 soldiers wounded, with one dying from his injuries. That day the Islamic State (ISIS) caliphate-run Amaq News Agency released a statement on Telegram claiming ISIS fighters killed 10 soldiers on Sulu, including 4 officers.

This was the first attack on Sulu ever claimed Islamic State. First, by the quasi-official Islamic State media outlet “Amaq" and the official ISIS statement confirmed the Amaq claim later in their Rumiyah (“Rome”) magazine, both distributed on Telegram channels.

Why is this significant?

ASG factions

It is the conventional wisdom among analysts that the Abu Sayyaf Group, since 2014’s ISIS caliphate declaration, had splintered into a pro-ISIS faction – the Basilan contingent led by Isnilon Hapilon – and a Sulu-based, locally-focused faction, tethered to ASG cofounder and figurehead Radullon Sahiron. Back in September 2016, an attack in Basilan was claimed by ISIS and reprinted in Rumiyah’s premiere issue. It wouldn’t be until the magazine’s 10th issue that Sulu received the same recognition.

As Victor Taylor of Canada’s Mackenzie Institute has written for MindaNews, ASG Sulu is made up of loosely linked groups nominally under the gaze of Sahiron, who has not welcomed foreign fighters. Taylor notes what TRAC and other ASG watchers have concluded: that Sulu groups sometimes mimic the stereotypical ISIS imagery for their videos and use ISIS flags, but this, “is more a part of the negotiating tactics adopted when demanding ransom payments, rather than an indication of affiliation with ISIS.”

Sulu ASG, a triple threat

If any faction (or group of subfactions) is more infamous, successful and dangerous, it is the non-ISIS-linked Sulu bandits.

ASG Sulu groups do not need ISIS backing due to their booming kidnapping-for-ransom trade and local support. They have earned their fearsome reputation by beheading foreign nationals and seajacking the vessels of various countries (they still hold nearly two dozen hostages). And they can fight on land as well: In April, an attempt by Philippine Army to rescue Vietnamese hostages on Sulu ended with “32 wounded soldiers” according to officials, which likely means at least several died.

All that said, since the Basilan ASG under ISIS-designated emir Isnilon Hapilon joined with the Maute Group began the Marawi City siege, their Islamic State East Asia/Philippines franchise (ISEA) has overshadowed Sulu on the international stage. Rumiyah magazine issue 10 was dedicated to ISEA, including an interview with Hapilon.

Another ISIS Sulu claim

The May 25 IS Sulu claim was not a fluke. A second Amaq statement, claiming a mortar attack against the Philippine army in the same area of Pakitul, Sulu, was released on June 8 and disseminated in Rumiyah 11 on Telegram just last week (13 July). Coming in the middle of the whopping 48 claims from ISIS caliphate media since the Battle of Marawi began on May 23, the two Sulu claims were subtle and easily missed. However, these two Sulu claims are critical to understand how ISIS in East Asia is changing and refortifying.

As Isnilon Hapilon and ISEA have gained global attention and cemented the Islamic State brand in the Philippines, the emir’s influence might have brokered the consolidation of the Abu Sayyaf Group under the Islamic State banner, merging at least some local armed groups with the international movement. In his Rumiyah interview, Hapilon stated the biggest problem for the Muslims of the Mindanao archipelago was their factionalism and lack of unity.

ASG Sulu losing leaders

Aside from the Marawi siege, which Hapilon orchestrated, there is another reason the timing is right for an ASG Sulu shift toward the Islamic State: Aging ASG cofounder Radullon Sahiron has opened talks with the Philippine government to turn himself in. Sahiron long distrusted foreign fighters and did not need foreign funds due to a lucrative KFR trade. Still on the run, he is pressured by a Philippine Army campaign on Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi islands since January following President Duterte’s promise to wipe out ASG in 6 months.

Sahiron reportedly would make a deal with Manila on the condition that he not be turned over to the United States, which has a $1 million bounty on his head.

Muammar Askali connection

News of Sahiron possible capitulation came on the heels of the April 2017 death of Sulu subcommander and spokesman Muammar Askali (aka Abu Rami) in a firefight during an ambitious but failed raid in the Bohol region.

Reportedly close to Hapilon and trained by the infamous Malaysian bomb-maker Marwan (Zulkifli bin Hir), Askali pledged allegiance to ISIS but still remained close to Sahiron. Notorious for the kidnapping and beheading of foreign nationals, including a German sailor in February 2017, he was another important link between local families on Sulu (where his uncle was a Moro National Liberation Front leader) and the Pacific Rim jihadists from Malaysia and Indonesia converging in the region. There are reports he was being groomed to replace Sahiron as Sulu chief.

After the Bohol attack became a media spectacle for its representative threat to northern Philippine tourist spots, the government stepped up the military campaign on Sulu. Another Askali associate and bomb-maker, Alhabsy Misaya, was shot down in Sulu. ASG militants on Basilan and Tawi-Tawi islands are reported to be surrendering in droves due to Army pressure.

Force multiplier

There are doubtless many connections among ambitious jihadis on Sulu with those from Mindanao to Malaysia; yet these new claims speak to stronger, more formal ties among groups.

The merging of ASG Sulu crews with the official media houses of the “Khilafah” (not to mention the legions of ISIS fans on social media) could act as a force multiplier for both in international propaganda, recruitment and resources. It is a significant win for those such as Hapilon and the Mautes who have been trying to unite all South Philippines Muslim insurgents under the ISIS banner and create a beacon of jihad in the region.

ASG Sulu could use more foreign fighters to swell its ranks and more sanctuaries to escape to. As Islamic State East Asia struggles to establish itself, any increase in cooperation from Sulu or coordinated attacks across the Mindanao archipelago would further sap the strength of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and embarrass Manila. – Rappler.com

It seems that with ISIS losing ground in Iraq (to the point that the brides has started fleeing) that they would simply turn their attention elsewhere....

Not really accurate.

There are hundreds of Islamic terrorist groups, probably a fair number of them have wackos who think they should run the world Caliphate.

ISIS is only one roach in a swarm.

They don't die they multiply. They want to colonize country or world rather they want to do what they want to do. They have plan to kill who fight for their. I think they want to show that their God is stronger than any God so they want to show what they are.

They don't die they multiply. They want to colonize country or world rather they want to do what they want to do. They have plan to kill who fight for their. I think they want to show that their God is stronger than any God so they want to show what they are.

HAHA funny because the line they don't die they multiply is really accurate for the terrorist,
I mean they definitely die but their number or member's just keep on multiplying and lately more and more terrorist are being active and reported.

Family planning must be made mandatory and it should not be a choice. Else certain groups of people will attempt to seize power by increasing their population.

Not really accurate.

There are hundreds of Islamic terrorist groups, probably a fair number of them have wackos who think they should run the world Caliphate.

ISIS is only one roach in a swarm.

This remind me of last century

https://faculty.unlv.edu/gbrown/westernciv/handouts/africa2.jpg

Not all terrorists are Muslims and not all muslims are terorirsts and no, I dont think that they grab power via population as their culture and ways suggest but I think that it is but a part. All powerful countries in the world are still non-muslim countries and I think that to combat terrorism it is not through war or bloodshed but understanding and making peace.

Obviously, Asian countries do not have terrorist organizations as many as middle eastern countries. More terrorism is in middle east. I'm sure that Asian countries have more peaceful life style than western countries.

Middle East is in Asia mate. It is part of Asia, not a different continent. I think the most affected continent is Asia because of terrorism. Middle East, Pakistan, India, Nepal, China and Bangladesh are having lots of crisis because of terrorism.
South East Asia is strict towards terrorists compared to other countries.

Middle East is in Asia mate. It is part of Asia, not a different continent. I think the most affected continent is Asia because of terrorism. Middle East, Pakistan, India, Nepal, China and Bangladesh are having lots of crisis because of terrorism.
South East Asia is strict towards terrorists compared to other countries.

killing people in the name of religion or jihad is no good  at all

What the terrorists have done so far is considered jihad, but in fact, what they do is very contrary to jihad. Jihad are those who died during the war defending the religion of Islam. While there is currently no reason to fight. They just do bombings, slaughter and shout the name of Islam, they think doing the right thing, even though they do even beyond the wrong word. It is more than wrong, in addition to slaughter, they also exacerbate the name of Islam.

What the terrorists have done so far is considered jihad, but in fact, what they do is very contrary to jihad. Jihad are those who died during the war defending the religion of Islam. While there is currently no reason to fight. They just do bombings, slaughter and shout the name of Islam, they think doing the right thing, even though they do even beyond the wrong word. It is more than wrong, in addition to slaughter, they also exacerbate the name of Islam.

True, in fact they have no religion.Those who are called terrorists are just a collection of garbage, nothing to do with Islam.In fact we as human beings must be united to each other, life is not to be hostile.Do not let terrorists destroy us.

So now Buddhist's became terrorists? It is confusing. No mater what this kind of behavior and acts must be stopped, and i don't mean with other kills but by cutting the financing pipe, no money - no weapons - no killing=greater chanses for peace.

It seems that with ISIS losing ground in Iraq (to the point that the brides has started fleeing) that they would simply turn their attention elsewhere. The attack in the Philippines, which seem to be now attracting more foreign jihadis, don't seem to be an anomaly. It seems that it is just the beginning, with the battlefront simply moving to Asia. The dream of a SE Asian caliphate predated the rise of ISIS, now it seems the latter will try to make that real. With ISIS in the picture, we could see more coordination between groups from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

www.rappler.com/nation/175812-trac-abu-sayyaf-isis-alignment?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=referral

And the nerve of these people to name their magazine "Rome".

I'd say they are the most effective roach in that swarm but it seems that their reign is almost coming to an end and there will be an even tougher deranged terrorist group that's going to replace them, there is a vacuum and the devil will chose the ones to fill it.