Abu Sayyaf Apr 2026

The is a jihadist militant and pirate organization based in the southern Philippines, primarily in the Sulu Archipelago and Mindanao. Officially known by the Islamic State as the Islamic State – East Asia Province , its name translates from Arabic as "father of the swordsmith". Origin and Mission

The group's professed mission is to establish an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines, governed by Sharia law. abu sayyaf

The group is notorious for high-profile kidnappings of foreign tourists, Christian missionaries, and locals to fund its operations. The is a jihadist militant and pirate organization