An ISIS fighter erects the flag of the so-called Islamic State atop a school near a mosque in Marawi, southern Philippines on May 24, 2017. Residents of Marawi in the southern Philippines flee the city as government forces and ISIS militants clash. The southernmost island in the Philippines, Mindanao has long been plagued by conflict, with the region experiencing Communist insurgencies, nationalist rebellions, and brutal military crackdowns launched from Manila. Bearing the trademark high production values and gruesome executions of the core ISIS propaganda wing, the video represented the growing importance of Southeast Asia to the group's leaders in Syria. According to researchers at ICPVTR in Singapore, ISIS has formed Katibah Al-Muhajir -- the Brigade of the Migrant -- to organize fighters in Southeast Asia.

Source: CNN May 29, 2017 03:11 UTC