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Why did Operation Enduring Freedom–Philippines receive little publicity?

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U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command training mission — special operations warfare Members of the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command training for water rescue, 2007.

Operation Enduring Freedom–Philippines (OEF-P) received little publicity primarily because it was an indirect special operation, a category of warfare that intentionally avoids high visibility to maintain political sensitivity.1

The mission, which began in 2002, focused on supporting the Philippine government in its efforts against insurgent and terrorist groups in the southern islands through nonkinetic means, such as security force assistance and civil affairs projects. Both the United States and the Philippines sought to avoid the public and political backlash that would likely have resulted from more aggressive, visible, or conventional military support. By keeping the operation low-profile, the two nations were able to work toward their security goals while minimizing the potential for domestic or international controversy.1