EXCLUSIVE: Islamic State take extremist mission to Philippines | 60 Minutes Australia

Summary

This video script covers the conflict in the southern Philippines, focusing on how ISIS has established a foothold in the region. It delves into the challenges faced by the Philippines Armed Forces in regaining control of Marawi City, where ISIS aimed to create a stronghold. The script also highlights ongoing threats from ISIS fighters hiding in the jungle, training new recruits, and the increasing risk of suicide bombing attacks. Australian forces are providing training to local troops, and experts express concern over the potential for further violent extremism in the region.

Takeaways

• ⚔️ The Philippines has become a new battleground for ISIS, shifting their operations from the Middle East to local territories.
• 🏙️ The city of Marawi in the Philippines was a central hub for ISIS, leading to a deadly five-month siege that left the city in ruins.
• 💣 Despite military efforts, ISIS has not been eradicated, with many fighters still at large and continuing to pledge allegiance to the extremist group.
• 🌲 The dense jungles of southern Philippines serve as breeding grounds for extremist groups, where training and recruitment continue.
• 👥 ISIS has successfully united disparate fighters under their banner, aiming to create an Islamic state in Southeast Asia.
• 🧨 The siege of Marawi resulted in over 1,000 deaths, including civilians, soldiers, and ISIS fighters, with extensive aerial bombardment used to reclaim the city.
• 🚢 The Australian military is assisting the Philippines in counter-terrorism efforts, providing training in urban combat and maritime operations.
• 🔫 Local ISIS fighters, including young men and older recruits, continue to prepare for future attacks, driven by both ideology and financial incentives.
• 🎯 Experts warn that the failure to reconstruct Marawi could lead to more radicalization, with extremist recruitment thriving in makeshift camps for displaced citizens.
• 🧳 The threat of ISIS attacks extends beyond the Philippines, with concerns about potential bombings in Manila and possibly even Australia.

Q & A

What is the main setting of the combat scenes in the transcript?

The main setting is the southern Philippines, specifically Marawi City, which was used as a battleground by ISIS militants.

Why did ISIS choose to establish a presence in the Philippines?

ISIS chose the Philippines due to the dense jungle regions, which have historically been a breeding ground for local extremist groups, and because it provided an alternative battleground as fighting in the Middle East became more difficult.

How long did it take the Philippines Armed Forces to regain control of Marawi City?

It took the Philippines Armed Forces five months to regain control of Marawi City from ISIS militants.

Did the military completely eliminate ISIS from Marawi City?

No, the military did not completely eliminate ISIS. Some fighters remain at large, hiding in the jungle and training new recruits.

What strategy is ISIS using to continue its fight in Southeast Asia?

ISIS is using a guerrilla strategy, encouraging fighters to wage war in their home regions rather than traveling to Syria or Iraq. They aim to unify disparate local extremist groups under the ISIS banner.

What role did Australian forces play in the Philippines?

Australian forces, including more than 100 troops from the Army, Air Force, and Navy, were sent to the southern Philippines to train local military units in urban close combat and counter-insurgency tactics.

Why are the streets of Marawi City still dangerous for civilians?

The streets are dangerous due to hundreds of unexploded bombs hidden beneath the rubble, left over from the siege and military bombardment.

How is ISIS recruiting new fighters in the region?

ISIS is recruiting new fighters, particularly among displaced and impoverished young men in makeshift camps, offering them money, guns, and the promise of a better life under Sharia law.

What concern does Sydney Jones express about the future of ISIS in the Philippines?

Sydney Jones, an expert on terrorism in Southeast Asia, expresses concern that the failure to reconstruct Marawi City will foster resentment and create fertile ground for further ISIS recruitment and possible future attacks.

What new strategy is ISIS using after the failed siege of Marawi?

After the failed siege, ISIS has shifted its strategy to suicide bombing attacks, with a focus on densely populated cities like Manila.

Outlines

00:00

⚔️ ISIS' New Battleground in the Philippines

The video opens with a grim combat scene that resembles familiar Middle Eastern conflicts. However, this is happening in the Philippines, where ISIS has established a new front. The Philippines Armed Forces managed to reclaim territory after months of fighting, but remnants of ISIS remain, with fighters ready to strike again. A disillusioned young man, pledging allegiance to ISIS, reveals the ongoing threat as extremists continue to regroup, driven by a distorted belief in carrying out divine orders.

05:08

🏚️ Marawi City in Ruins: ISIS' Headquarters

The second section focuses on the scale of destruction in Marawi City, once envisioned by ISIS as its East Asia headquarters. The city, now in ruins, has striking parallels to devastated war zones like Raqqa in Syria. Military efforts to oust ISIS required intense aerial bombardment, reducing the central business district to rubble. Despite the massive destruction, ISIS fighters still lurk in nearby hills, training new recruits, posing an ongoing threat to regional security.

10:11

🌊 Securing the Waters: Australia's Role in the Fight

Australia’s military involvement in the Philippines is highlighted in this segment. More than 100 Australian troops have been deployed to train local forces in urban combat tactics, drawing on experience from Afghanistan and Iraq. Joint naval operations with the Philippines are underway to secure waterways often used by extremist groups for kidnappings and foreign fighter movement. The cooperation aims to prevent ISIS from spreading its influence further, especially toward Australian shores.

15:14

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Recruiting the Disillusioned: ISIS' Growing Forces

The fourth segment introduces 'Saddam,' a young ISIS recruit, who describes how he and many other young men joined ISIS, lured by financial incentives and the promise of fulfilling divine commands. With over 100 new recruits like Saddam, ISIS continues to foster a dangerous ideology in Marawi and its surrounding areas. Additionally, middle-aged men are also joining ISIS, believing the group offers a better future amidst the wreckage of war-torn communities.

20:17

🏚️ A Ticking Time Bomb: Camps of Displaced Families

The final section paints a grim picture of makeshift camps housing over 60,000 displaced people after the siege. These camps have become fertile ground for ISIS recruitment, especially among young, idle men with no future prospects. Experts warn that the failure to reconstruct Marawi City has fostered resentment, creating a breeding ground for future attacks, with the threat of suicide bombings looming large. Extremists like 'Saddam' express a willingness to target not just Manila but also countries like Australia if ordered by their leaders.

Keywords

💡Urban Warfare

Urban warfare refers to combat conducted in urban environments, such as towns or cities. In the video, this type of warfare is highlighted as occurring in the Philippines, where ISIS fighters took over Marawi City. The challenges of urban warfare, like fighting in close quarters among civilians, are a central theme as it depicts the devastating impact on the local population and infrastructure.

💡ISIS

ISIS, or the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, is a terrorist organization that seeks to establish a caliphate governed by a strict interpretation of Islamic law. In the video, ISIS has shifted its focus from the Middle East to other regions, including the Philippines, where it has recruited and trained local fighters to wage guerrilla warfare, leading to prolonged conflicts like the siege of Marawi.

💡Marawi City

Marawi City, located in the southern Philippines, became the focal point of a major conflict when ISIS-affiliated militants seized control of the city in 2017. The city was heavily damaged during the five-month siege as the Philippine military fought to reclaim it. The destruction of Marawi and its aftermath, including the ongoing threat from ISIS fighters, underscores the video's exploration of the long-term impact of extremist violence.

💡Guerrilla Strategy

A guerrilla strategy involves small, mobile groups of combatants using tactics like ambushes and raids to fight a larger, less-mobile traditional military. The video discusses how ISIS has adopted this strategy in the Philippines, using local recruits to carry out attacks and destabilize regions like Marawi. This approach allows ISIS to continue its operations even as it loses territory in the Middle East.

💡Caliphate

A caliphate is a form of Islamic government led by a caliph, who is considered a political and religious successor to the prophet Muhammad. ISIS's goal of establishing a caliphate is central to its ideology and actions. In the video, the organization's attempts to create a caliphate in Southeast Asia, specifically in the Philippines, are evident in their takeover of Marawi City and efforts to enforce Sharia law.

💡Radicalization

Radicalization is the process by which individuals come to adopt extremist ideologies and potentially engage in violent activities. The video highlights how ISIS recruits and radicalizes young men in the Philippines, exploiting local grievances and poverty to build a new generation of fighters. The ongoing presence of radicalized individuals in regions like Marawi represents a continuing security threat.

💡Australian Military Involvement

The Australian military's involvement in the Philippines is portrayed as part of a broader effort to combat the spread of ISIS in Southeast Asia. Australian troops are helping train local forces in urban combat tactics, reflecting Australia’s concern that the instability in the Philippines could eventually threaten its own security. This partnership demonstrates the international dimension of the fight against ISIS.

💡Sharia Law

Sharia law is the religious law forming part of the Islamic tradition, governing aspects of daily life for Muslims. In the video, ISIS fighters in the Philippines seek to impose Sharia law in regions they control, such as Marawi. Their enforcement of Sharia is tied to their broader goal of establishing a caliphate, and it often results in severe restrictions on the local population.

💡Siege of Marawi

The siege of Marawi refers to the five-month-long battle in 2017 where Philippine forces fought to reclaim the city from ISIS-affiliated militants. The siege resulted in significant loss of life and destruction, with over 1,000 people killed. The video portrays this event as a pivotal moment in the fight against ISIS in Southeast Asia, emphasizing the enduring consequences for the local population.

💡Foreign Fighters

Foreign fighters are individuals who travel from their home countries to join militant groups in conflict zones. In the video, foreign fighters are shown to have joined ISIS in the Philippines, bringing combat experience and training to local recruits. Their involvement underscores the global nature of ISIS's network and the challenges of combating an ideology that transcends borders.

Highlights

The Philippines has become a new battleground for ISIS, with the group shifting its strategy to focus on local conflicts outside the Middle East.

ISIS fighters in the Philippines have united various local extremist groups under the banner of the Islamic State.

ISIS established its East Asia headquarters in Marawi City, which lies in ruins after a five-month battle with the Philippine Armed Forces.

Despite the destruction, ISIS fighters are still at large, training new recruits in secret jungle camps.

Former ISIS fighters explain their allegiance to the group as being driven by religious beliefs and the perceived necessity to follow God's orders.

The dense jungle terrain of the southern Philippines has long been a breeding ground for local extremist groups.

The Australian military has quietly been training local forces in the Philippines to counter ISIS's urban guerrilla warfare tactics.

ISIS has recruited a new generation of fighters, including disillusioned young men and middle-aged fathers who are ready to continue fighting.

More than 1,000 people were killed during the battle for Marawi, including civilians, soldiers, and ISIS militants.

The extensive destruction of Marawi was due to precise yet intense aerial bombardments by the Philippine military to dislodge ISIS from fortified positions.

ISIS fighters in the region are now adopting a new strategy, focusing on suicide bombing attacks rather than attempting to seize large cities.

The ongoing failure to rebuild Marawi has left thousands homeless and vulnerable to radicalization by ISIS, creating a new source of potential recruits.

ISIS continues to train children in warfare, with recruits as young as 9 years old being prepared for future conflicts.

Experts warn that ISIS's influence in the southern Philippines poses a threat not only to Southeast Asia but potentially to countries like Australia, which has close proximity to the region.

Philippine military officials remain vigilant, tracking down ISIS training camps and using lessons learned from the Marawi siege to prevent future conflicts.

Transcripts

at first glance these combat scenes are

all too familiar

a deadly urban war where innocent

civilians are undoubtedly being killed

but these aren't the streets of Syria or

Iraq

it's much closer to home

this is the Philippines and it's the

frightening new battleground of the

Islamic state

Isis has said basically now that it's

difficult to get to Syria wage war at

home that's the new mode of Isis it's a

guerilla strategy using components from

outside the heartland of the Middle East

[Music]

it took five long months for the

Philippines Armed Forces to get the

upper hand here

but they didn't wipe out Isis altogether

just meters from the battleground we

come face to face with the disillusioned

men still pledging their allegiance to

Isis you took over the city you were

responsible for killing a lot of people

that is to make the government afraid a

new generation of fighters angry young

men in their 20s fathers in their 50s

armed and ready to fight again so you

and your friends are ready to strike

yeah would you be happy to kill people

like me who's gonna kill us I'm just

doing what God told us to do the dense

jungle of the southern Philippines has

long been a breeding ground for local

extremist groups but what makes this

battle different is the ability of Isis

to bring together disparate fighters

under the one banner all fighting for an

exclusive Islamic state

two years ago Isis set its sights on

Meroe City as its East Asia headquarters

today it lies in ruin

the bombed out homes and shop fronts

resembling the streets of Raqqa in Syria

it might not look like it but these

streets are still too dangerous for

locals to return home hundreds of

unexploded bombs are hidden beneath the

rubble

military checkpoints guard the entrance

to what's left of this city

this area is actually the central

business district of meroe city before

the siege but during the siege this was

also where the ISIS established their

defensive position general Rommel Brona

was on the front lines of the battle

here in Marawi City

it would have made it very hard for you

to just looking around to fight

door-to-door it was really very

difficult because as you see there are

lots of open spaces more than 1000

people were killed during the siege

civilians soldiers and the enemy

during the last days of the of the siege

the ISIS occupied most of these

buildings and so in order to drive them

out you had to drop bombs no to bombard

this areas that's why you'll notice that

the buildings are like this so you sent

in appliance big-time yes lot of aerial

bombardment not not a lot of bombardment

it had to be really precise well if they

if this is precise and I I'd hate to say

it was just random yeah because I mean

every building is just smashed

[Music]

we're on top of the Grand Mosque in the

center of town where Isis had its

Logistics headquarters and it's easy to

see why because from here it made it

very easy to monitor the siege now it's

even easier to see the scale of

destruction this was the second time in

five years that Islamic extremism has

brought mass bloodshed to the southern

Philippines just three hours flight time

from Darwin

[Music]

in the hills beyond this ruined city

many of the Isis fighters are still at

large training new recruits in secret

camps

we've had some tastes of what can occur

and if we're not vigilant it may occur

again people will be inspired to upset

and that's not going to change we just

need to be ready to make sure that we

can we can counter it

just months after the siege ended in

November 2017 Australia quietly made

steps 3.65 second to send its own troops

into the jungles of the southern

philippines to train local forces it may

not be on Australia at this part of the

world is in our backyard it is their

direct area of interest and the people

that we are helping now now they're our

neighbors they're their prosperity their

peace is ours Group Captain John Young

believes this operation is also making

sure the threat of Isis here never makes

its way to Australian shores what do you

make of a resolve to wipe out the threat

of Isis in the region they are intent on

making sure that groups like Isis don't

hold their foothold and don't get back

on top again they want them gone

it's the first time television cameras

have been given access to this operation

more than 100 Australian troops from the

Army Air Force and Navy are on the

ground here offering lessons they

learned in combat in Afghanistan and

Iraq this open range has been set up to

train local forces in urban close combat

shooting skill that fighting extremists

in the jungle the Philippines military

were caught off guard when Isis forced

them to the streets of a major city

what's the idea behind it I said to

increase speed accuracy Warrant Officer

Ryan Young says this training is making

the soldiers more confident in battle

decently us then training and makes them

faster in moving that rifle up acquiring

the target releasing the rounds until

the threat spawn so when something like

a murabbi siege where you're in close

combat between buildings and things like

that this is the sort of stuff you need

yeah precisely

we shall attempt reserved

[Music]

it might look like a tropical tourist

retreat but the Sulu Sea off the coast

of Zamboanga is popular with local

extremist groups looking to make big

bucks from kidnap for ransom it's also

the jumping off point for foreign

fighters who want to train with local

extremists on these lawless islands

here the Australian Navy patrol boat

HMAS Childers is conducting a joint

operation with the Philippines Navy

today this Ozzie crew are teaching the

local forces how to board and assess the

threat on board a vessel

have a few questions for you

thank you again thank you

have a good day it's unique operating

situation for you isn't it with these

waterways yeah it's very intricate you

can see over there the main island we've

got Zamboanga and then you come over

here to dozens of smaller islands all

interconnected

Alicia Randy is the commanding officer

of HMAS children's accustomed to

patrolling the vast coastlines of

Australia these busy waterways and

porous borders are a change of pace for

the Australian crew according to some of

the intelligence a few of these islands

have still got foreign fighters on them

I mean they're not benign are they no

that's right we we spent some time with

that Filipino gunboat last week and he

was explaining that whilst they look

peaceful from the outside and while

we're out here in beautiful conditions

what's happening over there is much more

sinister and and to be taken very

seriously

Jade reconnected stupid girl

what you're doing here would also help

our safety down the track oh absolutely

I mean Indonesia and Philippines and and

pub when you guinea are our closest

neighbors it's in our best interest to

to work closely with their navies and

build and strengthen those relationships

still to come a point to ours

how many do you think there are easily

2000

mm Isis preparing for war where do you

think they go from here

I think bombing attacks the frightening

threat from a hardline extremist if some

people try to kill us we must fight

entitle them to that's next on 60

minutes

[Music]

on the edges of meroe city in the

southern philippines daily life has

cautiously resumed but you don't have to

look too far to find the scars that Isis

has left behind this building used to be

a school for Christian students its

walls are now covered in bullet holes

and Isis graffiti

I'm here to meet a young Isis recruit

that Filipino troops are training to

eliminate he doesn't want to show his

face and is requested we call him Saddam

are you worried that you will be caught

by the troops now yes because you know

you could be locked up for a very long

time three years ago when he was 21

years old Saddam was lured to join Isis

they give us money they give us guns

then every month they give us income

I'll give you a wage yes that would be

very attractive yes

so effectively Isis has given you a job

yes what is it about Isis that you like

Isis is telling the God's order and

that's definitely what but what will

make us go to paradise

[Music]

it's no longer just about money Saddam

now lives and breathes they're sickening

ideology

he says foreign extremists trained him

and other men his age in warfare against

non-believers do you know many men such

as yourself around here who also want to

be part of Isis yes I have I have many

friends that also want to join or train

our group many friends still here still

here around the near Marawi yes

Saddam claims more than 100 young men

who either escaped the battle or joined

afterwards are now members of his group

they want Sharia law enforced in

majority Muslim cities like Marawi so if

you don't get Sharia law you would be

happy to fight again in my opinion yes

Isis have made a lot of trouble in a lot

of countries will they make trouble in

Australia we don't know that if some

people try to kill us we must fight and

try to kill them too

it's not just angry young men who have

joined the fight a growing number of

middle-aged men like 54 year old kid

also believe Isis can offer a better

life is there a lot of support are there

a lot of people here who would fight

again like you miss marami Meisner I

mean Bella but there will even be more

people who will join us fight if it

happens how many do you think there are

amazed Amy : maincity mm mm

just in this area

[Music]

the real fear is that these fighters

will now look to camps like this one to

find even more recruits more than 60,000

have been left homeless after the siege

many have been pushed to these makeshift

camps a putrid place for any family to

live temporarily let alone years

there are hundreds of young fighting

aged men among these homeless families

all left to live in the squalor without

a future without a job and without much

hope perfect targets to be turned and

radicalized by the extremists

[Music]

I think everybody sees the failure to

reconstruct Malawi as being a real

danger point because it's fertile ground

for recruitment and there is a lot of

resentment and there are many people who

see the destruction of Malawi as coming

more from the government airstrikes than

from the activities of the extremists

Sydney Jones is a leading expert on

terrorism in Southeast Asia where do you

think they go from here in terms of

expressing their dissatisfaction

I think bombing attacks I think that's

their their best option as it were after

failing to take over Marawi city Isis

has a deadly new strategy suicide

bombing attacks it's a threat but Sydney

Jones believes could easily make its way

here to the Philippines capital of

Manila I think we have to be worried

about the potential for a violent attack

in Manila partly because there's a

history of attacks here nobody expects

it nobody's prepared for it but there

are always people that can infiltrate

into the capital and I'm surprised

frankly that we haven't had an impact

yep but you think there's more chance

the bombs going off here in Manila now

for the next round of attacks than there

is back in Marawi I think there's a

bigger chance of a bomb attack in Manila

than there is of another takeover of a

city

disturbingly for young extremists like

Saddam it's a fight they are openly

prepared for so next time you won't be

fighting in your backyard yes you'll

find another target yes somewhere like

Manila if that's what our leaders say

since then we will be happy to do you'll

be happy to do that what about another

country like Australia I don't know dad

Saddam isn't deterred by the presence of

Australian troops in his region

Australians have been training the

Philippine Army to fight Isis and we

have foreign people special forces that

trained us too so if if that happen

Allah will help us you're confident that

you would put up a good fight yes

[Music]

for general roméo Braunger

the crumbling mass of meroe city is a

daily motivation to make sure isis never

gains a foothold again in his patch so

we're going into this building and I'm

going to show you one of the tunnels

that they used to cross from this area

under into this area

hopefully it's not unexploded no this

will this was cleared earlier already by

our geo D teams right the river so you

have this hole that they dug most of the

tunnels that they dug were done by their

hostages they force their hostages to

dig this tunnels here so this tunnel in

particular would cross into the into the

street under the street and into the

other building

and lessons from the battle in Malawi

have helped general Bronner's troops

track down new terror training camps in

the region just a few months ago you

raided a camp where Isis were training

children that's right yes it is

frightened it is it is because they

start training the children at the ages

of nine and ten and so even the youngest

surrender II that we had was he's 11

11 years old and so he started training

when he was nine there just goes to show

I mean it shows you that they still have

tentacles everywhere and they're still

trying they're still making a Pacific

they're still trying they're still

trying they haven't abandoned their

their objective of creating a Caliphate

here in Southeast Asia

we can see what happens around us when

it gets out of control sir that's right

it's my good luck in the fog

thank you hello I'm Liam Bartlett thanks

for watching so keep up with the latest

from 60 minutes Australia make sure you

subscribe to our Channel

you can also download the 9 now app for

full episodes and other exclusive 60

minutes content