12 Islamist Fighters Killed in Philippines

On Tuesday, July 10th, the Philippine army killed 12 jihadists in an operation on the island of Mindanao. The fighters belonged to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) group which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2014. BIFF formed in 2010 after splintering from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Mindanao has for decades been embroiled in a conflict between the majority Christians and minority Muslims of the island, who represent about 25% of Mindanao’s population. Last year, a five-month battle between Philippine government forces and Islamist fighters killed and wounded thousands on both sides combined. Although that battle resulted in a victory for the Philippine forces, it also revealed an influx of foreign fighters. Defeats of jihadists in former Islamic State territory in Iraq and Syria drove fighters to relocate to create a new hub. In Mindanao, jihadists found like-minded Islamists who were already engaged in battle against the Philippine government.

This latest operation against Islamist fighters began on June 1. In the month and a half since then, 57 fighters have been killed and 28 wounded. In comparison, only 4 members of the Philippine forces have been killed while 20 have been wounded.

The operation has been largely successful so far. Philippine government forces have recovered 28 heavy machine guns, 10 Improvised Explosive Devices, and a variety of other smaller weapons. They have also captured four rebel villages, including one that contained a firearm-making facility.

A general leading the operation against the Islamic State-linked group said there are around 400 Islamist fighters remaining. The contingent has seen an influx of fighters from Malaysia, Indonesia, and former Islamic State territories in the Middle East.

Since the self-proclaimed Caliphate was toppled in Iraq and Syria, Islamic State fighters have sought new strongholds, attempting to establish bases in parts of Africa and Asia. The group in the Philippines proves that jihadists can present a global threat, and that a more robust U.S. foreign policy may be necessary to truly defeat them and prevent them from spreading to new territories. The extensive operation conducted by Philippine forces over the last month and a half shows that the Philippines remains a major battleground against Islamist forces linked to the Islamic State.