In the Philippines, the Islamic State Fights to Set the Narrative

(NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images)

A scout ranger with the Philippine army patrols Marawi City. The siege there, which now in its third week, has earned its place in the record books as one of the largest and longest jihadist hostage situations in the modern era.

Over the decades, jihadist groups have been drawn to prolonged hostage situations for the theatrics and publicity they afford. The siege in Marawi City , the capital of the Philippine province of Lanao del Sur, offers a particularly dramatic example of this tactic. Now in its third week, the attack by militants with the Islamic State-affiliated Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups has earned a place in the record books. Along with the 100 to 240 people under militant control, the nearly 2,000 residents of Marawi City who have been caught in the crossfire make it the largest jihadist hostage situation in modern history. And only individuals or smaller groups of hostages have been held for longer than the 17 days Marawi's residents have spent captured. The incident's size and duration make it difficult to determine the jihadists' intentions for the attack.