Interconnected terror
“The delay in the fulfillment of that promise has resulted in rising dissatisfaction with the government that the terror groups are trying to exploit .
Daily Tribune“The delay in the fulfillment of that promise has resulted in rising dissatisfaction with the government that the terror groups are trying to exploit .
Students of anti-terrorism have noted symbolisms that indicate extremists are trying to send a message that the Islamic State, or IS, is back in harness.
The IS-affiliated Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups were considered annihilated after their defeat in the horrifying siege of Marawi City in 2017.
It took five months for the armed forces, with help from the United States and other allies, to bring down the terrorists that used the same tactics as the Hamas pogromists when they undertook the 7 October terror assault on Israel.
Bloomberg analyst Karishma Vaswani noted the symbolisms in the recent IS bombing of a morning Catholic Mass at Mindanao State University in Marawi.
When the blast ripped through the MSU gymnasium, it was packed with Christian faithful, many of them students deep in prayer on the First Sunday of Advent.
Sunday marks the start of the traditional four-week preparation for Christmas, which holds special meaning for most Roman Catholic nations.
IS has since claimed responsibility on its Telegram channel, and while authorities say they're still investigating, they have launched a "massive manhunt" for the suspects.
The bombing killed four people, and at least 50 were injured, according to the Philippine military.
Terror groups appear to prefer to undertake their signature operations during the period when the main Christian religious season starts, and the faithful are busy worshipping.
Hamas launched its surprise attack on Israel during the celebration of the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah.
In 2020, dozens of gunmen allied with IS raided Datu Piang town in Maguindanao.
The insurgents attacked the municipal hall, the police station, a Catholic church, a Philippine Army post and torched a patrol car before leaving — which was meant as a message that the IS forces were consolidating after the failed Marawi siege.
After that attack, there was relative calm, but now there are concerns that the IS is gaining new momentum.
The fact that foreigners still carry out most of the operations in the country shows that local terrorists remain bandits who are either disgruntled with the government or were lured by the promises of gainful plunder.
In 2017, Marawi was the scene of a five-month battle between the military and IS-led fighters that reduced the city, which IS wanted to be the capital of a Southeast Asian province of their Muslim caliphate, to rubble.
The cost of the five-month clash was unsettling, but the government promised to rebuild the city.
The delay in the fulfillment of that promise has resulted in rising dissatisfaction with the government that the terror groups are trying to exploit by recruiting members.
The blast at MSU is believed to be part of the IS followers' attempt to recapture Marawi.
The Hamas attack on 7 October has become a showcase of the extent to which terror operations can achieve a measure of success. It may drive similar-minded groups to launch attempts more for recognition than targeting success.
Hamas has shown how profitable terrorism can be as it sucked up support from Arab nations.
The Gaza skirmishes are fueling stronger Islamic sentiment because of the images of dead and injured children flooding social media.
Muslims across Asia have attended rallies and sermons in support of the Palestinians. "While there has been no direct link announced between the violence in Gaza and the Marawi bombing, militants have been able to exploit the situation to find recruits," according to the Bloomberg analyst.
Sidney Jones, director of the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis Conflict, predicted the lasting appeal of IS in the Philippines in 2019, urging the nation to move beyond military operations aimed at killing known extremist leaders, which only produces a new generation bent on vengeance.
Taking a leaf from Israel, constant vigilance with the entire citizenry taking an active part in protecting their communities is key to stopping terrorism cold in its tracks.