Philippines terror groups merge to form ISIL outpost

Four Islamic terrorist groups in the southern Philippines have joined forces to become an outpost for Islamic State, according to a new jihadi video.

Members of the groups, including the notorious Abu Sayyaf, carry ISIL flags and pledge allegiance to ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in the video, which appeared online last Friday before being removed.

The groups have separately pledged support to ISIL in the past, but the united front presented in the video suggests an agreement to join forces and prosecute ISIL's goals of establishing a worldwide 'caliphate', Fairfax Media reports.

Head of the Singapore-based International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, Rohan Gunaratna, told The Australian the movement could be a threat to Australians in southeast Asia.

"The recruits who cannot go to Syria because of travel restrictions will train in the Philippines and attack Australia and coalition interests on their return," he said.

"As the ‘soldiers of the caliphate’ in The Philippines, they will mount operations that will -increasingly mirror IS’s core in Syria and Iraq."

The United States has offered $7.2 million reward for the capture of Abu Sayaff leader Isnilon Hapilon, who is believed to be the mastermind behind numerous attacks, beheadings and kidnappings across southeast Asia over the past decade.

Source: Fairfax Media