Rappler's latest stories on Islamic State in Iraq and Syria
Women of the Eastern Caliphate: By blood and marriage
(UPDATED) Part 2: Their men fight at the frontlines, but by blood and marriage, these women played a crucial role in the Marawi siege and the establishment of an ISIS caliphate in the Philippines
Women of the Eastern Caliphate: Hiding in plain sight
(UPDATED) Part 1: From hapless accomplices, women are becoming willing and enthusiastic actors in jihad
Army denies ISIS claim of military deaths in Lanao del Sur
ISIS announced on January 25 that its East Asia Province in Lanao del Sur clashed with government troops
Wife of new ISIS Southeast Asia 'emir' nabbed in General Santos
Nafisa Pundog, identified by authorities as the wife of Abu Dar, has a standing warrant of arrest for allegedly possessing a blasting cap/incendiary device
ISIS operatives, Tito Sotto, World Cup 2018 | Midday wRap
Watch Rappler’s midday newscast with Mara Cepeda
Airstrikes, clashes between military, ISIS-Maute group in Lanao del Sur towns
(3rd UPDATE) According to Colonel Romeo Brawner, current reports indicate 5 members of the Maute-ISIS group led by Abu Dar, have been killed. The military is still verifying these reports.
[ANALYSIS] What Islamic State East Asia looks like post-Marawi
The siege of Marawi, in its 143rd day, has opened a door for the Islamic State that the eventual retaking of Marawi by government forces cannot shut
New York 'plotter' was allegedly doctor to pro-ISIS gunmen
The Philippine military says Russell Salic had links to the Maute terror group, which since May had been occupying parts of Marawi City
Opium of the people in Marawi
In this day and age extremism religious or otherwise has become the new opium of the people an addiction to the promise of paradise and its ultimate high is the assurance of going to heaven as a reward for martyrdom
Terrorists used water route to beat Philippine offensive – army
Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jo ar Herrera says the route was discovered following the arrest of a man who used a boat to smuggle ammunition into the battle zone and ferry wounded terrorists out
Duterte to visit wake of Resorts World attack victims
The President is expected to condole with the families of those who died from the attack in a Pasay City funeral home on Saturday night
Baghdad blasts kill 27 as Iraq forces battle ISIS in Mosul
UPDATED A suicide bomber blows up a vehicle near an ice cream shop and a car bomb explodes near one of Baghdad s main bridges
Rappler Talk: Rohan Gunaratna on ISIS in the Philippines
Watch our interview with terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna live
FAST FACTS: What you should know about the Maute Group
The ISIS inspired Maute group has been active in recent months as it seeks the support of the international terror group
Kuwait quizzes ISIS suspect deported from Philippines
Hussein al Dhafiri was arrested in Manila last month along with his Syrian wife Rahaf Zina on suspicion of being members of ISIS
Egypt Copts ready for Easter mass despite attacks
The faithful will spend a large part of Easter eve going through arduous security checks outside places of worship
ISIS now controls less than 7% of Iraq, military says
Iraqi forces backed by US led air strikes and other support are now battling ISIS inside second city Mosul after retaking much of the other territory the jihadists had seized
Returning ISIS fighters to regroup in Philippines – experts
Instability and the easy flow of weapons have made Mindanao and nearby Philippine islands attractive to extremist groups experts say
Iraq forces retake Mosul train station
UPDATED Iraqi forces have taken back a series of neighborhoods as well as sites including the city s airport the Mosul museum and the provincial government headquarters
Many 'lone-wolf' attacks are coached from afar, study claims
According to researchers evidence now shows that many so called lone wolves are in reality encouraged and directed by ISIS operatives to undertake attacks for which the group can then claim credit
Atop Palmyra's damaged theater, Syrian musicians sing of return
Everyone will rebuild in their own way We want to rebuild it with music and singing teenage musician Angel Dayoub says
Rappler Talk: Baker Atyani's 18 months with the Abu Sayyaf
Journalist Baker Atyani relives the 18 months he was held captive by the Abu Sayyaf
ISIS wreaks new destruction in Syria's ancient Palmyra
The UN s cultural agency has reacted with outrage calling the fresh destruction a war crime and cultural cleansing
Al-Qaeda chief denounces Islamic State 'liars'
In an audio message Ayman al Zawahiri complains that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi had alleged that Al Qaeda opposes sectarian attacks on Shiites and was prepared to work with Christian leaders
ISIS claims Istanbul night club shooting
On social media ISIS says one of the soldiers of the caliphate had carried out the attack on the Istanbul night club
Kuwait jails Filipina for joining ISIS
The ruling which is not final also calls for deporting the 32 year old after serving a 10 year jail term
Duterte and human rights, U.S. and Mindanao, Berlin attack | Midday wRap
Watch Rappler s midday newscast with Maria Ressa
Duterte fears ISIS caliphate in Southeast Asia
ISIS wants to establish a caliphate a kingdom that would comprise Indonesia Philippines Malaysia and Brunei says the Philippine President
Russian security service kills North Caucasus ISIS 'emir'
Russia s FSB kills Rustam Aselderov also known as Sheikh Abu Mohammad al Qadari and 4 of his close associates
Marcos burial, Kerwin Espinosa, Facebook vs terrorism | 12PM wRap
Watch the 12PM wRap with Maria Ressa
U.S. buys ads on Facebook to fight jihadists
The United States has found this year that online ads on media like Facebook rather than posts are a cost effective way to fight the jihadist propaganda of the Islamic State and other such groups
Iraq says forces enter Mosul as 'true liberation' begins
3rd UPDATE Troops had entered the Judaidat Al Mufti area within the left bank of the city of Mosul the Joint Operations Command says in a statement
Coalition huddles as forces inch towards Mosul
UPDATED Forces from the elite counter terrorism service CTS retook areas close to the eastern outskirts of Mosul ISIS s last major urban stronghold in Iraq
Iraq forces in fierce Kirkuk clashes with ISIS
A day after the shock attack on the Kurdish controlled city of Kirkuk jihadist snipers and suspected suicide bombers are still at large
Pentagon chief in Iraq to discuss Mosul offensive
US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter is expected to discuss the post ISIS future of Mosul Iraq s second city and the place where jihadist supremo Abu Bakr al Baghdadi proclaimed the caliphate in June 2014
Syria making 'great strides' in war – FM tells UN
Syria s foreign minister says facts show that a US led coalition air strike on Syrian soldiers was an intentional attack and not an error even if the United States claims otherwise
Germany arrests 3 ISIS suspects with 'links' to Paris attackers
More than 200 police commandos take part in the pre dawn raids in northern Germany to detain the men who were suspected of either plotting an attack or awaiting orders to commit one
Woman held after 'foiled' Paris attack was ISIS follower
UPDATED France is on high alert following a string of jihadist attacks including last November s coordinated bloodshed in which Islamic State extremists killed 130 people
US fears over ISIS group's Southeast Asia expansion
A senior US counter terrorism official notes that militants from Southeast Asia fighting with ISIS in Iraq and Syria have been deployed in a unit called the Katibah Nusantara
Syrian regime jets hit Kurdish positions, even after US warning
In another escalation of Syria s bloody conflict warplanes from President Bashar al Assad s regime bombard the city of Hasakeh – targeting US backed Kurdish forces
ISIS abducts 2,000 civilians in north Syria
The abductions come as Russian and Syrian jets pounded rebel positions in second city Aleppo
Trump says comment on Obama founding ISIS was sarcasm
As he often does the Republican presidential nominee accuses the news media of misconstruing something he said
Clinton, Trump spar over Islamic State claim, economy
A furious Democratic National Committee calls on Donald Trump to apologize for his outrageous unhinged and patently false suggestions
Brazil arrests man on terrorism charges ahead of Olympics
The man allegedly had links to terrorist organizations at least as far back as 2014 when Brazil hosted the football World Cup
Clashes rock Syria's Manbij as ISIS ignores ultimatum
Thousands of civilians have already fled Manbij which lies in Syria s northern Aleppo province
80 dead as ISIS claims twin blasts during Kabul protest
3rd UPDATE The attack represents a major escalation for the ISIS group which so has largely been confined to the eastern province of Nangarhar
ISIS claims Nice massacre as France defends security
UPDATED Police say they have arrested 4 more people linked to suspect Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel as well as his estranged wife
Iraq PM sacks security chiefs as new attack kills 30
UPDATED Prime Minister Haider al Abadi issues an order to relieve the Baghdad Operations commander and the officials responsible for intelligence and security in the capital
17 more charged over Istanbul airport attack
Seventeen people including 11 Russians have been charged over the Istanbul airport attack bringing to 30 the total number charged in connection with the suicide assault
Bangladesh in mourning after hostage bloodbath
Flags are being flown at half mast in government offices and at other sites across the country while funerals of the two Bangladeshi victims are expected to be held
