The Islamic State group’s emir for Southeast Asia was killed on Wednesday during a pre-dawn raid in the south of the Philippines, the country’s military said.
Faharudin Hadji Satar, who is known as Abu Zacharia, died in the military operation in Marawi, Lanao del Sur province, according to Col. Billy de la Rosa, assistant commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade.
The operation showed the Philippines’ determination to eliminate Islamic radicalism, especially that propagated by IS, said Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of the army’s Western Mindanao Command.
Zacharia was among 10 individuals designated as a terrorist by the Philippines’ Anti-Terrorism Council in February 2021 “for conspiring, planning and preparing for the commission of terrorism.”
