A top Dawlah Islamiyah–Hassan Group leader and bomb expert was killed in a military operation in Brgy. Satan, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur on December 7, 2025, according to the Philippine Army.
Brig. Gen. Edgar Catu, commander of the 601st Unifier Brigade, identified the fatality as Ustads Mohammad Usman Solaiman. He was known as the Amir of the DI-HG and was the brother of Ustadz Kamaro Usman, who was killed in March 2020 along with former BIFF–Karialan Faction commander Kumander Badi.
The Army said Solaiman was a skilled bomb maker and a nephew of the late Basit Usman, a bomb expert from the Special Operations Group of the BIFF who had ties to Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya. Authorities regard Solaiman’s group as responsible for several attacks in Mindanao, including the April 24, 2022 bombing of a Rural Bus in Parang, Maguindanao; two bus explosions involving Yellow Bus Line in Koronadal and Tacurong on May 26, 2022; and another Yellow Bus Line attack in Tacurong on November 6, 2022.
His group was also tagged in the Husky Bus bombing on April 17, 2023 in Isulan, an ambush in Barangay Tuayan, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, and the killing of three goat traders from Batangas.
The military said Solaiman and companion Norodin Hassan, also known as Andot, remained among the key figures of the DI-HG following the 2021 death of former leader Abu Azim. Hassan is being pursued along with other remaining members.
Catu credited residents for providing critical information that led to the operation. Maj. Gen. Jose Vladimir R. Cagara, commander of the 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Central, praised the success and urged remaining members to surrender, saying government support awaits those willing to return to civilian life.
