How ISIS Is Rising in the Philippines as It Dwindles in the Middle East – The New York Times

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By Hannah Beech and Jason Gutierrez

“BASILAN, the Philippines — Across the islands of the southern Philippines, the black flag of the Islamic State is flying over what the group considers its East Asia province.

Men in the jungle, two oceans away from the arid birthplace of the Islamic State, are taking the terrorist brand name into new battles.

As worshipers gathered in January for Sunday Mass at a Catholic cathedral, two bombs ripped through the church compound, killing 23 people. The Islamic State claimed a pair of its suicide bombers had caused the carnage.

An illustration circulated days later on Islamic State chat groups, showing President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines kneeling on a pile of skulls and a militant standing over him with a dagger. The caption on the picture sounded a warning: “The fighting has just begun.” “

DL: I heard a report on NPR today, 6/13/19, on the devastation of Marawi, which is mentioned further in this news story.

Marawi, after ISIS take over, and then battle to drive them out.

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