This thesis analyzed the new form of urban terrorism as displayed in the siege of Marawi City. It sought to analyze the factors in the operational environment that bred the expansion of urban terrorism in the Philippines. The case study method was used to draw out the results of the study. Crenshaw's Theories on Terrorism, Elkus and Sullivan's Spectrum of Urban Armed Assault, Savitch's Typology of Urban Terrorist Attack, and the System's Perspective using the PMESII-RAFT model was used as a point of analysis. The results showed that there was a new form of terrorism that has bred out of the older forms of terrorism in the Philippines. The change in political ideology and organizational form is apparent as it evolved into an ISIS inspired ideology and leadership. Marawi City is vulnerable to urban terrorism when analyzed under the systems perspective using PMESII-RAFT model. These environmental factors influenced the rise of terrorism in the Philippines. Finally, the strategic assessment was done to draw out national and regional implications of urban terrorism was recommended for further study.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited -- Report documentation page. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student author and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.) -- Thesis approval page. 15 June 2018 -- Thesis approval page.

Master of Military Art and Science thesis approval page --Abstract -- Acknowledgements -- Table of contents -- Acronyms -- Illustrations -- Tables -- Chapter 1. Introduction -- Background -- Marawi Siege timeline of key events -- Research purpose -- Research questions -- Context of the research question -- Assumptions -- Definitions -- Scope -- Limitations -- Delimitations -- Significance of the study -- Chapter 2. Literature review -- Introduction -- Theories of terrorism -- Urban Terrorism -- Systems perspective -- Urban Environment -- Related literatures specific to the case study -- Daesh in Southeast Asia -- Pro-ISIS groups in Mexico -- Chapter 3. Research methodology -- Research design and methods -- Data gathering -- Data analysis -- Research framework -- Chapter 4. Analysis -- Part I. Mapping the forms of terrorism in the Philippines -- Islamic extremist groups and their form of terrorism -- The Abu Sayaff Group (ASG) -- Bandsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) -- The Misauri Breakaway Group -- The Mautes: a family of extremists -- Analysis: forms of terrorism in the Philippines using Crenshaw’s Instrumental and Organizational approach -- Political objectives -- Ideology -- Organizational structure and leadership -- Analysis: typology and spectrum of terrorist attacks -- Analysis: urban siege as a new form of terrorism -- Part II. The environmental factors that influenced the incident of the Marawi Siege -- The operational environment -- Background -- Political -- Economic -- Social -- Military -- Informational -- Infrastructure -- Urban environment of Marawi City -- Physical terrain -- Population -- Infrastructure -- Analysis of the PMESII factors in the Marawi Siege -- Chapter 5. Conclusions and recommendations -- Conclusion -- A new form of urban terrorism -- Urban terrorism model -- Profile of the terrorist organizations -- Typology and spectrum of urban terror attacks -- The operational environment -- The urban environment -- Recommendation for further study -- Recommendations for national and regional policy -- Bibliography.