Asean to map out response to likely new ISIS threats

This photo taken on October 17, 2017 shows Philippine soldiers on a street flanked by destroyed buildings in Marawi on the southern island of Mindanao. At first glance, the endless rows of devastated buildings could be the aftermath of a great earthquake. But the punctured, bullet-riddled walls tell the true story of the Philippines’ longest urban war. AFP

Asean defense ministers are meeting Monday (Oct. 23) to map out a response to possible new threats posed by ISIS as some of its fighters return to Asia to regroup and recruit after its defeat in the Middle East.

Counter-terrorism experts have warned that Asia’s capitals are facing a more elusive and lethal incarnation of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), as the militant group returns to its roots as a guerilla force, following crushing blows in the Middle East and in the Philippines.

A United States-backed coalition of Arab and Kurdish forces last week retook Raqqa, in Syria, marking the symbolic demise of the ISIS caliphate.

Days later, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared Marawi “free of terrorists’ influence”, after security forces killed two top pro-ISIS extremists who led hundreds of militants that stormed the city on May 23, and had held on to parts of it since then.

Following these defeats, ISIS fighters are regrouping in remote areas in Syria and Iraq.

Many battle-hardened ISIS veterans from Asia are expected to head back to their “wilayats”, or provinces, in South Asia and Southeast Asia to recruit more followers, sow violence and inspire lone-wolf attacks.

These are among the new threats expected to be discussed during the 11th Asean Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), set for Monday and Tuesday, at the Clark special economic zone.

Singapore’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen will speak about “Singapore’s plans to continue to strengthen regional counter-terrorism cooperation, and promulgate confidence-building measures to enhance maritime and aviation safety”.

The Philippines will be handing the ADMM chairmanship to Singapore tomorrow.

Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines have already begun joint patrols of terrorist-plagued waters off the Sulu archipelago in Mindanao and Sabah. They recently agreed to complement these with joint air patrols.

Earlier this year, Asean foreign ministers agreed to adopt more measures to stem the flow of militants across Southeast Asia and to starve them of terrorist funding. There have also been proposals to crack down on online ISIS propaganda and recruitment efforts.

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