SUMMARY

On 20 April 2016. the IS Al Naba newsletter presented Isnilon Hapilon as the amir of the Islamic States forces in the Philippines, marking the creation of the Islamic State in the region. IS in the Philippines recruited its members from the different Islamist groups operating in the southern parts of the Philippines.

Following high levels of violence in 2017, the Philippines: Islamic State conflict has steadily de-escalated, with 2025 marking the first year the conflict failed to exceed the minimum threshold of 25 battle-related deaths and thus not passing the UCDP level of inclusion.