On Aug. 24, the US Treasury Department designated three Islamic State recruiters as terrorists. The trio appeared in a June 2016 beheading video that was used to recruit fighters from Southeast Asia. The new designation is the latest in a series of moves taken by the US government to target the Islamic State’s global network with financial sanctions and other measures.
The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a military checkpoint in the Philippines earlier today. The bomber was identified as a foreign fighter known as Abu Kathir al-Maghrebi.
The video comes as the crisis in Marawi enters its second week. The video details Islamic State-loyal fighters destroying religious symbols and vandalizing the inside of the church.
The government of Philippines says that an attack that left more than 30 people dead at the Resorts World Manila (RWM) casino was a botched robbery. However, the Islamic State claims that one of its supporters carried it out.
The Islamic State’s Amaq News Agency has released its first video from the fighting in the southern Philippine city of Marawi. Jihadists loyal to the so-called caliphate launched their offensive in Marawi more than a week ago.
As the siege continues into its second day, thousands of civilians have been forced to flee and martial law has been declared inside Marawi city.
The clashes are currently ongoing, but pictures circulating online appear to show jihadist forces openly moving about the city. At least one policemen is reported killed and five soldiers wounded so far.
Filipino forces have been battling for control over a southern town after Islamic State-loyal forces captured it last week.
