Key Facts
- Operation start
- 2016
- Militants killed
- More than 40
- Militants captured alive
- 19
- Original commander neutralised
- Santoso killed in 2016
- Operation extended to
- December 2022
- Phase change
- January 2023: civil order restoration and rehabilitation
Strategic Narrative Overview
The operation, initially known as Operation Tinombala, achieved a key milestone in 2016 when security forces killed MIT leader Santoso. Despite this, National Police Chief Tito Karnavian extended the operation to neutralise remaining members. Over its course, more than 40 militants were killed and 19 captured alive, with Central Sulawesi's governor praising the relatively measured approach that prioritised live captures where possible.
01 / The Origins
Mujahidin Indonesia Timur (MIT), an Indonesian terrorist group affiliated with ISIL and led by Santoso, conducted armed activities in the Central Sulawesi region around Poso. The group's violence and ideological alignment with global jihadist networks prompted the Indonesian government to launch a coordinated counter-terrorism response involving both the National Police and the Armed Forces to dismantle the organisation.
03 / The Outcome
The operation was formally extended through December 2022 and entered a phasing-out stage. From January 2023, objectives shifted from direct counter-terrorism to restoring civil order and rehabilitating communities affected by MIT's activities. As of July 2025, the operation continued at a preventive level, reflecting a transition from active combat to long-term stabilisation of the region.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
2 belligerents
Tito Karnavian.
Side B
1 belligerent
Santoso.