Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines

Part of Insurgency in the Philippines, the War on Terror

Philippine Marines training with U.S. Marines

Date	15 January 2002 – February 24, 2015
Location	Philippines
Status	Successful operation - Substantial reduction in capabilities of domestic and transnational terrorist groups operating in the Philippines

Belligerents

Government of the Philippines

Armed Forces of the Philippines

United States (advisors)

United States Armed Forces

Jihadist groups:

Commanders and leaders

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
(2001-2010)

Benigno Aquino III
(2010-2016)

Donald C. Wurster
(2002-2011)

Isnilon Totoni Hapilon

Abu Sabaya †

Khadaffy Janjalani †

Albader Parad †

Umbra Jumdail †

Abu Bakar Bashir (POW)

Marwan †

Strength

US Forces: 250–6,000 (Advisors/Trainers)

Abu Sayyaf: 300

Jemaah Islamiyah: 5,000

Casualties and losses

17 killed

328+ killed

Causes:
Communist insurgency in the Philippines
Islamic insurgency in the Philippines,
11 September 2001 attacks

Government of the Philippines

United States (advisors)

Jihadist groups:

Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines (OEF-P) or Operation Freedom Eagle was part of Operation Enduring Freedom and the global War on Terror. The Operation targeted the various Jihadist terror groups operating in the country. By 2009, about 600 U.S. military personnel were advising and assisting the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the Southern Philippines. In addition, by 2014, the CIA had sent its elite paramilitary officers from their Special Activities Division to hunt down and kill or capture key terrorist leaders. This group had the most success in combating and capturing Al-Qaeda leaders and the leaders of associated groups like Abu Sayyaf.

The 1898 Treaty of Paris ended the Spanish–American War, with Spain ceding the Philippines to the United States. Islam had arrived in the Philippines before the Spanish. Spain had conquered the northern islands, and the southern islands had become Muslim strongholds. The Spanish cession included the islands of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, and the ceded territory included the islands of the Sultanate of Sulu located in the Philippine archipelago where slavery and piracy had for centuries been practiced by the Moros. The Spanish had established coastal garrisons but had never controlled the jungle interiors of the islands.

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Wikipedia