Who is Abu Turaife, Filipino terrorist touted as new emir of IS Southeast Asia?

Abu Turaife is the leader of one two BIFF terror factions aligned with IS.

Abu Turaife (top) is touted to be the new IS Philippines and Southeast Asia leader. At bottom are former leaders who were slain by Philippine government forces. (Photo: Via TRAC)

MANILA: A new IS leader for the Philippines and Southeast Asia region has been announced following the killing of his predecessor in June by Philippine government forces, analysts told SEA MILITANCY.

Esmael Abdulmalik a.k.a. Abu Turaife, the leader of one of two pro-IS factions of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) terror group, was touted by unofficial IS media channels as the new emir. 

The reported leader succeeded Faharuddin Hadji Sattar a.k.a. Jer Mimbantas and Abu Zacharia, the leader of the pro-IS Maute Group and IS in the region, who was killed in a military operation in June this year.