Fighting the Islamic State in the Fifth Domain: Transnational Terrorism in the Indo-Pacific

The presence of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) continues to have a turbulent effect on Middle Eastern stability and security. As a result of this conflict, Southeast Asia is experiencing a return of extremists from the battlegrounds of Syria and Iraq. Due to the group’s formidable endurance, ISIS has exploited the opportunity to expand its mission into a sympathetic region. In particular, Indonesia and Malaysia are the primary target states due to their large-scale Muslim populations. Additionally, ISIS has focused on the southern Philippines and Singapore. The implication of the Islamic State’s emergence in Southeast Asia has had an immediate and tumultuous effect on regional security especially with the transition from the battlefield to the battlespace.