Cross border attacks in Sabah

For the conflict in the Philippines, see Moro conflict.

Cross border attacks in Sabah
Part of the Piracy in the Sulu Sea, North Borneo dispute, Moro conflict, and the spillovers of the Philippines drug war and of the Insurgency in South Thailand
Attacks by Moro pirates and militants in Sabah from the 19th century to the present
Date 8 December 1962 – present (63 years, 9 months and 6 days) Location Sabah, Malaysia with spillovers in Klang Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Malaysia Sabah Philippines (1986–2016) Indonesia Vietnam Singapore Thailand Bangsamoro militia support: MILF MNLF (Mus Sema faction)	Abu Sayyaf Philippines (until 1986, since 2016) Moro Pirates (since 1963) Sulu Sultanate (Jamalul Kiram III faction; since 2013) Former Sabah invasion supporter: MNLF (Misuari faction; 2001–2015) USFBR (2013)
Commanders and leaders
Anwar Ibrahim Mohamed Khaled Nordin Hajiji Noor Prabowo Subianto Murad Ebrahim Mohagher Iqbal Muslimin Sema Former leaders: Malaysian prime ministers Tunku Abdul Rahman (1962–1970) # Abdul Razak Hussein (1970–1976) # Hussein Onn (1976–1981) # Mahathir Mohamad (1981–2003, 2018–2020) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (2003–2009) Najib Razak (2009–2018) Muhyiddin Yassin (2020–2021) Ismail Sabri Yaakob (2021-2022) Sabah chief ministers Fuad Stephens  † Peter Lo Sui Yin # Mustapha Harun # Mohamed Said Keruak Harris Salleh Joseph Pairin Kitingan Sakaran Dandai Salleh Said Keruak Yong Teck Lee Bernard Giluk Dompok Osu Sukam Chong Kah Kiat Musa Aman Shafie Apdal Philippines presidents Corazon Aquino # Fidel V. Ramos # Joseph Estrada Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Benigno Aquino III # Indonesian presidents Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Joko Widodo	Radullan Sahiron (POW) Abdurajak Janjalani † Khadaffy Janjalani † Isnilon Totoni Hapilon † Bongbong Marcos Phudgal Kiram Various pirate leaders Jamalul Kiram III # Agbimuddin Kiram # Ismael Kiram II # Former support: Diosdado Macapagal # Ferdinand Marcos # Rodrigo Duterte Nur Misuari (2001–2015)
Units involved
NSOF Malaysian Armed Forces Royal Malaysia Police Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Indonesian National Armed Forces Indonesian National Police 1986–2016: Armed Forces of the Philippines Philippine National Police British coalition (until 1966) Royal Australian Navy Royal New Zealand Navy British troops and navy	Abu Sayyaf Moro Pirates Royal Security Forces of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo
Strength
Malaysian security forces: Malaysian Army 6,000+ troops 18 ACV-300 Adnan IFV 12 DefTech AV8 AFV Some of AV4 Lipanbara MRAP Some of Condor APC Royal Malaysian Air Force A squadron of BAE Hawk 3 F/A-18D Hornet Some of Eurocopter EC725 Royal Malaysian Navy Ships from Eastern Fleet Philippine security forces: uncertain Indonesian security forces: uncertain Law-abiding Moro rebels: uncertain British coalition (until 1966) Australian forces HMAS Tobruk HMAS Sydney (R17) New Zealand forces Patrol ships British forces Thousands British troops	Abu Sayyaf: unknown Kiram followers: 235 Moro Pirates: unknown
Casualties and losses
Malaysian security forces: ≈12+ deaths and 13 wounded recorded Philippine security forces: uncertain Indonesian security forces: uncertain Law-abiding Moro rebels: uncertain British coalition (until 1966) uncertain	Abu Sayyaf: 21+ killed 3 wounded 10+ captured Kiram followers: 58 killed 3 wounded Moro Pirates: Hundreds killed
Civilian casualties ~estimated 50+ killed ~estimated 23 wounded
~ The total thought to be higher than what has been shown.

The cross border attacks in Sabah are a series of cross border terrorist attacks perpetrated by Moro pirates from Mindanao, Philippines, in the state of Sabah, Malaysia, that began even before the British colonial period. Many civilians have died or suffered during these incidents, causing an increase in anti-Filipino sentiment among the native peoples of Sabah, especially after major attacks in 1985, 2000 and 2013. The attacks were more intense during the presidential terms of Diosdado Macapagal and Ferdinand Marcos, who supported irredentist claims to include eastern Sabah as part of the Philippines territory. In addition, recent infiltration and attacks by militants as well as uncontrolled human migration from Mindanao to Sabah has led to more unease among the local residents of Sabah, with around 78% of prison inmates that were caught in the state due to involvement in criminal activities and lawlessness issues mainly originating from the southern Philippines.

Prior to a large-scale military operation initiated by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to combat the rampant lawlessness in the southern Philippines since mid-2016, Malaysian security forces had been told to tighten its security and to ensure that terrorists do not attempt to flee prosecution by escaping to uninhabited areas. Sabahan leaders also ordered Malaysian security forces to "shoot on sight" any trespassers who continue to ignore laws despite repeated warnings and that those escaping militants be dealt with by the country's laws more effectively. Following the declaration of martial law in the neighbouring Philippines since 23 May 2017, Malaysian authorities increased their border security. Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal also urged the Malaysian security forces to stop taking a defensive attitude and be offensive towards the rampant crimes perpetrated by southern Filipino criminals and terrorists that has disturbed peace in the state.

Various countries and territories such as Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam have raised a travel alert for their citizens to avoid the area in eastern Sabah.