Top-five stories from 2024 on SEA Militancy
Southeast Asia terror threats in 2024 down, but not out.
It’s been two weeks already into 2025 but 2024’s counterterrorism and security picture in Southeast Asia is still unforgettable to me, largely because terrorist threats were said by many analysts to be decreasing, but they have not totally gone away.
When I recently looked at the top-five stories from 2024 on this site, I saw that four of them were about the Philippines — and do you think what I’m thinking?
Yup, in the southern Philippines, terrorist threats have indeed not been eradicated despite they having gone down.
But let’s not forget — Philippine authorities are doing a good job at tackling terror threats be they from the Moro or communists.
Please take a look below at the top-five stories from last year on this site.
#1: Moscow terror attack may impact Southeast, South Asia, beyond. Here's how.
The Islamic State terror group’s attack on March 22, 2024 in Russia that killed at least 144 people could impact Southeast Asia, South Asia and beyond, according to experts.
The attack began shortly after the Russian band Picnic was scheduled to perform to a sold-out audience at the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast, as four gunmen carried out mass shooting, slashing attacks and used incendiary devices to torch the concert’s venue.
More than 551 concertgoers were injured by gunshot wounds and poisoned by the fire and on March 28, 2024, Russian authorities said a further 95 people were missing.
Read the full report.
#2: 'Foreign Islamic State spokesman - possibly Syrian - speaks from Mindanao'
A resurgence of activities of the Islamic State terror group’s local chapters with the involvement of foreign terrorists in the southern Philippines recently has prompted renewed calls for authorities in Southeast Asian nations to be extra vigilant.
Terror attacks escalated in the southern Philippines targeting military and militia outposts as well as civilian public spaces last year, resulting in scores of deaths and injuries. Of particular note was a deadly bombing at a university gym that killed four Catholic mass attendees on Dec. 3, 2023 at Mindanao State University in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur province.
An analyst said since the Moro Islamic Liberation Front negotiated a peace agreement with the Philippine government, it has at times acted as a mediator with various armed Islamic State factions in the Philippines to help negotiate hostage releases.
Read the full report.
#3: Pro-IS leader may still be at large in Mindanao
The Philippine military recently confirmed that the mastermind of December 2023’s Mindanao university bombing was among nine pro-Islamic State terrorists killed during clashes with government forces on Jan. 25-26, 2024.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said in a statement on Feb. 12, 2024, described the alleged bombing mastermind, Khadafi Mimbesa also known as Engineer, as an “amir” or leader of the pro-Islamic State Maute Group.
The bombing occurred on Dec. 3, 2023, during a Catholic Mass held inside a gym at Mindanao State University in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur’s provincial capital, which killed four people and injured dozens others.
Read the full report.
#4: 'IS Philippines spokesman is now the group's emir'
The rank of a spokesman for the Islamic State (IS) terror group in the Philippines has been elevated to that of emir or leader, said a terrorism monitor.
An analyst at the the US-based Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium (TRAC) said the so-called Islamic State East Asia (ISEA) wilayat or province recently circulated three statements from Sheikh Abu Abdullah al-Ansari and all three focused on the Feb. 18, 2024 ambush by a local pro-IS terror group, the Maute Group, that killed six Army troops, in Munai, Lanao del Norte province, in Mindanao.
Read the full report.
#5: Philippine army battalion transferred to pro-Islamic State group's area of operations
A Philippine army battalion has been transferred to a province in Mindanao to strengthen security efforts in the area where a local pro-Islamic State terrorist group is being pursued.
The army’s 1st Infantry Division (1ID) said they, under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Gabriel C. Viray III, held a welcome ceremony for the 64th Infantry Battalion as it was officially transferred from Basilan province to Lanao del Sur province on April 17, 2024.
“Led by Lt. Col. Abel O. Potutan, the 64th Infantry Battalion has a long history of service and dedication to the country,” said 1ID in a statement.
Read the full report.