Global Presence of Self-Proclaimed Islamic State: Current Geographical Influence Uncovered

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Police have confirmed they are investigating the Bondi Beach terror attack as being allegedly driven by self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group extremist ideology.

Authorities have also revealed that just last month, the two alleged shooters travelled to the Philippines, where jihadist groups still pose a threat.

While it no longer controls any one country, the IS group maintains a presence in several regions and is affiliated with several other terrorist organisations.

The Sunni Islamic extremist group controlled large swathes of Iraq and Syria up until 2019, when it suffered major losses, but maintains an “active presence” around the world, according to the federal government’s Australian National Security (ANS) agency.

In 2014, during their height, extremist groups like IS had the capability to recruit and influence individuals through powerful online narratives, as noted by the ANS website.

According to Levi West, a research fellow at ANU who specializes in the study of radicalization, the Philippines has a long-standing history of separatist terrorist activity.

The pair are reported to have travelled to the city of Davao on the southern island of Mindanao, where they may have received military style training from extremists.

A map of the Philippines, with Manila, Mindanao and Davao tagged

West highlighted that the southern islands of the Philippines are predominantly Islamic, in contrast to the rest of the nation, which is mainly Catholic.

West said that if the pair were trained by a terrorist organisation in the Philippines, they would have had to have built relationships before travelling there.

“You can’t just go to the southern Philippines and show up at an IS-run training camp and ask; there’s a level of connectivity and a set of relationships that you would need to have in place.”

Jemaah Islamiyah was designated as a terrorist organization by the Australian government in 2002. This group is identified as a “Sunni Islamist religiously motivated violent extremist organization.”

Where is Islamic State located?

The ATA for 2025 lists six IS group provinces, which are not defined by sovereign borders or countries.

These provinces are areas where the group claims authority, according to the ATA.

The Khorasan Province, which the ATA described as the “branch most capable of carrying out external terrorist attacks” is named after the historical region of Khorasan, which was in Iran. This branch of IS is in Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan, and central Asia.

A graphic depicting self-proclaimed Islamic State group provinces and affiliates

Source: SBS News

The IS group has five other provinces located across Africa.

The West Africa Province and Sahel Province encompass the Lake Chad Basin areas of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad, as well as the border regions of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

The remaining provinces are made up of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which stretches into parts of Uganda, Mozambique and Somalia.

The ATA makes a distinction between these provinces and IS group-affiliated organisations, which are “reportedly active, albeit reportedly less than” the provinces.

These affiliated terrorist groups are in Bangladesh, Libya, Egypt, and the Philippines.

Radicalisation beyond borders

While IS groups are restricted by geography, radical ideologies can spread beyond physical borders through a “combination of social, psychological, and technological factors”, according to Awni Etaywe, a lecturer and researcher in terrorism at Charles Darwin University.

He told SBS News that perceived grievances, social polarisation and disinformation can all appeal to someone who could then become radicalised.

“Extreme organisations exploit online platforms, including social media, encrypted messaging apps, and digital publications, to disseminate high-quality propaganda that appeals to identity, ideology, and emotion,” he said.

“Videos, images, online magazines, and even video games are used to create compelling narratives that portray violence as justified, socially rewarding, or spiritually fulfilling, while simultaneously framing governments or communities as immoral or oppressive.”

Social media can facilitate a rapid and widespread distribution of radical ideas, enabling recruiters to identify and influence “susceptible individuals”.

“As radicalisation progresses, individuals may attempt to influence governments or segments of the community through threats,” Etaywe said.

“When someone begins to support or justify the use of violence to advance a cause, radicalisation to violent extremism becomes a significant concern. Once a person becomes committed to violent action, an actual attack may occur very quickly.”