Judicial Watch Sues U.S. Department of Defense for Records on Death of ‘Most Wanted’ Terrorist Marwan

(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today that it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense for records about Zulkifli Abdhir, also known as “Marwan,” a Malaysian terrorist on the FBI’s Most Wanted list who was killed in January 2015 during a Philippine Special Action Force raid (Judicial Watch Inc. v. U.S. Department of Defense (1:26-cv-00573)).

Judicial Watch filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia after U.S. Special Operations Command, a component of the War Department, failed to respond to a June 2025 FOIA request for intelligence, surveillance, and operational records concerning Marwan. The request includes reports on his activities and bomb-making, drone imagery and flight records related to the January 2015 “Oplan Exodus” operation. Communications between U.S. and Philippine forces are also requested, as well as records of U.S. training and logistical support, threat assessments, and documentation of coordination with the FBI regarding his identification and death confirmation, including DNA analysis.

Marwan was a high-profile international terrorist on the FBI’s Most Wanted List, which carried a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture. In August 2007, he was indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice for conspiracy and providing material support to terrorists.

In January 2015, Marwan reportedly was killed during a raid by the Philippine National Police Special Action Force. Forty-four members of the police’s elite Special Action Force were also killed in the assault.

“Our government continues to withhold details about an event that took place a decade ago,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “The American people deserve transparency about the circumstances surrounding this high-profile international terrorist who was on the FBI’s Most Wanted List.”

In a separate lawsuit filed earlier this month, Judicial Watch filed a FOIA lawsuit against the Justice Department for FBI records about the death of Marwan.

In June 2025 Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department for records related to the killing of Marwan. The lawsuit asks for records about the collection, analysis, and chain of custody of a severed left index finger alleged to belong to Marwan, as well as photographs of his body and any related identification or forensic documentation.

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