Philippines and the Islamic State

BelligerentsCommanders and leadersBongbong Marcos
Gilbert Teodoro
Antonio Nafarrete
Jose Melencio Nartatez
Nur Misuari
Murad Ebrahim Ismael Abubakar †
Esmail Sheikh Abdulmalik #
Isnilon Hapilon†
Omar Maute†
Abdullah Maute†
Mohammad Maguid †Units involvedStrength 50 (2025)Casualties and losses Almost 240+ killed Almost 1,680+ killed 165+ civilians dead

The Philippines is one of the state opponents of the militant group, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), more commonly referred to by the local media as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The local jihadist groups through which ISIL maintains operations include the Maute group, Abu Sayyaf, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Ansar Khalifa Philippines. They follow the school of thought of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, commonly referred to as Wahhabism. The groups pledged allegiance to ISIL in 2014 or the following years.

ISIL has been linked to increased suicide bombings by Filipino nationals in 2018 and 2019. This method has rarely been carried out in the Philippines; the few bombings successfully carried out were done by foreigners. The group was suspected to be involved in the 2018 Lamitan, 2019 Jolo Cathedral and Indanan bombings.