Sydney Attackers' Philippines Connection: Tracing ISIS Networks and Extremism in Southeast Asia

Dec 17, 2025 10:56 am CST

This article examines the recent revelation that the Bondi Beach attackers visited Davao City in the Philippines for 28 days before their assault in Sydney. It explores the ongoing ISIS-linked extremism in the southern Philippines, particularly in Mindanao, the legacy of the 2017 Marawi siege, and how terrorist networks continue to operate despite territorial defeats. The piece details active militant groups, online radicalization strategies, and established smuggling routes that facilitate terrorist movement across Southeast Asia.