The second quarter of Terrorism Watch 2025 explores the most recent events and developments pertaining to terror-related incidents in Southeast Asia and significant incidents worldwide from April to June 2025.
Countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan remain hotspots for terrorism due to prolonged instability and weak governance, which allow extremist groups to operate. In the African region, the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab continues to be a major security concern. In South Asia, tensions between India and Pakistan are exploited by militant groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, whose cross-border operations not only destabilise the region but also link to global terrorist network. Meanwhile in Syria, the emergence of new leadership could trigger a revival of Daesh by allowing the group to reorganize its network and expand its international reach.
In Southeast Asia, most attack are carried out by self-radicalized individuals rather than large coordinated groups. Many of these terrorists are heavily influenced and recruited through social media platforms, which have become powerful tools for spreading extremist ideology and isolated sympathizers across the region.
Malaysia remains proactive by implementing early preventive measures to ensure that its citizens do not adopt terrorist ideologies that could endanger national security. Ongoing instability in West Asia and the shift in Daesh’s operational base may influence the movement of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) and the patterns of terrorist activity.
In summary, the second quarter of 2025 has witnessed a rise in both global and regional terrorist threats. The use of advanced technology by terrorist groups underscores the need for a coordinated response. Regional nations must act decisively to confront this emerging challenge.
INTRODUCTION
Across several nations, the second quarter of 2025 has been marked by significant events. Terrorist and militant continue operations in conflict zones in order to reinforce their presence.
The following are the highlights of recent terrorism-related occurrences around the world:
a. Afghanistan.
(1) On 10 June 25, an armed clash broke out between the Taliban and Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP) in District 15 near the Marjan residential complex in northeastern Kabul. This incident is part of a series of intensified operations carried out by the Taliban to eliminate ISKP elements that remain active in the Afghan capital.
(2) To counter this threat, the Taliban is likely to tighten security along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border by increasing patrols and establishing additional checkpoints as a proactive measure to prevent early infiltration, besides weaken ISKP’s operational capabilities.
b. Pakistan.
(1) On 22 Apr 25, at least 10 suspected Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants were killed and several others injured during a joint operation conducted by the Punjab Police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Makarwal, Mianwali District, Punjab.
(2) TTP’s growing presence in the Makarwal area, likely as a consequence of sustained military pressure in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions. The group appears to be using Makarwal’s location, near the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border and relatively close to Balochistan, as a strategic base for operations. The Pakistani security forces’ move to target non-hotspot areas could disrupt TTP’s hiding strategy, which relies on poorly monitored locations.
c. Somalia.
(1) On 16 Apr 25, the Al-Shabaab militants group launched an attack on the strategic town of Adan Yabaal in the Shabelle region. The assault began with an explosion, followed by coordinated attacks from multiple directions. Al-Shabaab, an affiliate of Al-Qaeda, claimed to have captured ten military posts during the operations.
(2) On 8 June 25, at least three senior Al-Shabaab commanders were eliminated in an airstrike conducted by Somali security forces near the town of El-Bur in central Somalia. Among the dead was Nuur Abdi Rooble, a prominent operative linked to attacks on civilians across Somalia since 2009. Also killed were Caddaw, who managed the group’s intelligence network in the Galgadud region, and lastly is Macallin Cumar, Al-Shabaab’s chief training facilitator. All three figures played an important role in designing and executing attacks in the Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions.
(3) Al-Shabaab, which remains a primary threat in Somalia, continues to demonstrate its strength and capability to carry out attacks across the country. Although the Somali government maintains that Al-Shabaab’s operational capacity has been significantly reduced, recent developments indicate that the group remains active, particularly in rural areas. The government is expected to focus its efforts on strengthening military presence in these rural regions and enhancing cooperation with regional and international forces to combat this persistent threat.
d. Syria.
(1) On 4 May 25, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) carried out an operation to arrest an individual believed to be commander of Daesh militants in the eastern rural areas of Deir ez-Zor. The suspect, identified as Hamoud Abdullah al-Khatib, also known as Abu Zakaria, was capture along with weapons and other items belonging to the senior leader.
(2) On 24 June 25, Syrian security forces announce the arrest of all Daesh militants responsible for the bombing of a Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus. Among those detained was a Syrian national, Muhammad al-Jamaili @ Abu Imad al-Jamaili, who is believes to be the leader of a Daesh cell in the country. The arrests followed the attack on 21 June, started when a Daesh suicide bomber opened fire before blowing up his explosive vest targeting Christian worshippers attending morning mass at the church. The blast killed at least 25 people, injured 63 others and caused extensive damage to the church’s infrastructure, including its main worship hall.
(3) This latest attack reflects the persistent threat posed by the Daesh terrorist group and highlights the continued presence of extremist elements within Syrian population. However, under the current leadership, the government has shown strong commitment to restoring national security through sustained efforts by security forces targeting Daesh’s infrastructure and support networks to destroy terrorist cells and enhance stability in Syria.
e. India.
(1) On 7 May 25, Indian security forces launched a military operation targeting nine terrorist locations, including the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes covered five locations in PoK which two each in Muzaffarabad and Kotli and one in Bhimber. The remaining four operations were conducted in Pakistan, including two in Sialkot and one each in Muridke and Bahawalpur. Codenamed Operation Sindoor, this mission was carried out as a response to the 22 Apr 25 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), which killed 26 people.
(2) The current conflict between the two neighboring countries is seen as the most serious diplomatic breakdown in India-Pakistan relations since the 1971 war. India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and Pakistan’s withdrawal from Simla Agreement signify the collapse of diplomatic frameworks that have long managed bilateral tensions. With both nations possessing nuclear weapons, the risk of miscalculation or unintended escalation has become a major concern for the international community. While Operation Sindoor may have achieved India’s short-term objective of demonstrating resolve uncertain. Internal pressures in Pakistan, including economic challenges and political instability, are likely to influence its response strategy. On the other hand, India’s actions may reinforce domestic political support but risk straining international relations of civilians casualties increase.
TERRORISM IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
INDONESIA
On 24 May 25, Indonesia’s Special Anti-Terrorism Detachment (Densus 88) forces detained a male teenager in Kabupaten Gowa, South Sulawesi. The suspect, identified only as MAS (18), was accused of disseminating extremist propaganda and inciting acts of terrorism online. He was reported to have distributed various Daesh propaganda materials, including images, videos, audio recordings, and writings that promoted the terrorist group.
On 28 May 25, Densus 88 successfully apprehended a terrorism suspect in Central Java, Indonesia. The suspect, identified as A (32), was accused of spreading radical propaganda related to a terrorist group on social media platforms. Reports indicate that the suspect had previously been involved with the terrorist organization Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), which is affiliated with Daesh.
The ongoing arrest operations carried out by Indonesian law enforcement are proving increasingly effective. However, digital radicalization and youth involvement present new challenges that require a more comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy.
THE PHILIPPINES
On 1 June 25, Philippine security forces arrested a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) involved in various terrorist activities in Basilan and Zamboanga, Philippines. The joint operation, which included both military and police units, successfully detained the suspect, identified as Isnaji Hashim (34), a follower of one of the ASG sub-groups led by Ibni Acosta.
On 24 June 25, Philippine security forces successfully captured a terrorist affiliated with the Dawlah Islamiyah group who was known for his expertise in bomb-making during an encounter in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte. The suspect, identified as Kamsa Budjal @ Ustads Ali, was a member of the Dawlah Islamiyah–Hasssan Group (DI-HG). Several pieces of evidence were recovered at the site of the encounter, including an M653 rifle, an M16A1 rifle, medical supplies, ammunition, bomb-making components, mobile phones, and subversive documents.
These continuous operations also highlight the effectiveness of the government’s Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) program in addressing the threat of terrorism and detach terrorist networks in the Philippines. Philippine security forces are expected to continue conducting security operations to safeguard public peace, ensure community well-being, and protect national interests.
SINGAPORE
On 2 Apr 25, a 15-year-old female student was dealt with under Singapore’s Internal Security Act (ISA). The teenager had been exposed to Daesh propaganda online in June 2023, and subsequently made a virtual “bai’ah” (pledge of allegiance) to a Daesh-affiliated chatbot in July 2023.
On 2 Apr 25, a 17-year-old male teenager was detained for planning attacks on five mosques in Singapore, including Masjid Maarof. He intended to carry out the attacks after Friday prayers to inflict a high number of casualties, with the goal of killing at least 100 Muslims. The teenager was influenced by far-right “East Asian Supremacy” ideology and idolized Brenton Tarrant, the perpetrator of the 2019 Christchurch attack. He also planned to livestream the assault. However, the plot was unsuccessful as he failed to obtain firearms, despite attempts to purchase a pistol from overseas and learning how to modify weapons online.
The rising cases of youth involvement in radicalization in the country shows how easily young individuals can be influenced by online content promoting armed jihad. Most of these youths undergo self-radicalization, where they are not directly recruited but instead become radicalized independently through exposure to extremist material on the internet.
MALAYSIA
On 27 June 25, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) arrested 35 Bangladeshi nationals and one Indonesian woman who were identified as directly involved in activities based on extremist beliefs and terrorist ideology. Intelligence and coordinated operations by PDRM’s Special Branch (E8) revealed that this group was introducing Daesh-inspired extremist ideology into the country.
Malaysia is no longer just a target but has also become a transit location for foreign terrorist groups before they carry out terrorist activities. Furthermore, these operations demonstrate the effectiveness of Malaysian security forces in combating subversive elements. This underscores the importance of cooperation between local agencies (inter-agency coordination) and international partners in addressing issues related to extremism, radicalization, and terrorism.
CONCLUSION
The rise of new leadership in Syria has potential to boost Daesh’s presence in global jihadist landscape. This resurgence not only allows Daesh to reorganize and strengthen its operational networks, but also serves as a source of inspiration for other terrorist groups worldwide. A recent Daesh’s attack on church in Syria, shows their intent to target places of worship. Such incidents set a dangerous precedent and could encourage other extremist groups to replicate similar attacks against religious places. Even without direct attacks, Daesh’s ideology continues to spread and influence extremist groups across other regions, extending their reach and impact far beyond the immediate conflict zones. Furthermore, the spread of extremism, radicalism, and terrorism ideologies across Southeast Asia remains deeply persistent and aggressive, particularly in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore. Daesh’s ideology maintains a significant influence over local militant networks, many of which have demonstrated links or sympathies to Daesh.
In Malaysia, the risk of terrorist acts is currently classified as “possible” with the overall threat level assessed as moderate. Although the security situation remains largely under control, the presence of foreign nationals attempting to utilize Malaysia as a transit point for terrorist operations represents a significant concern that need a proactive measures by authorities. To overcome this, Malaysian government has launched a comprehensive approach through the Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), focusing on prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation. Inter-agency cooperation involving the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Armed Forces (ATM) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) enhances border control, digital monitoring and rapid responses capabilities against potential threats. In addition, Malaysia works closely with international partners, especially ASEAN countries, to disrupt terrorist networks and prevent the country from being used as a transit point for foreign militants.
The current conflict in the Middle East, especially Israel-Palestine has caused anger and tension among certain groups. This situation creates an opportunity for both local and global terrorist groups to recruit new members and carry out attacks. These groups often use the idea of Muslim oppression to spread hatred and promote their violent agendas.