The leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, also known as “Abu Khadija,” has been killed, as announced by Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Friday.
According to the prime minister, al-Rifai was killed in an operation carried out by the Iraqi national intelligence service in collaboration with U.S.-led coalition forces. He described al-Rifai as “one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world.” Read more about the operation here.
U.S. President Donald Trump reacted to the news via his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that al-Rifai’s “miserable life was terminated.” In his post, Trump emphasized the significance of the operation, noting that the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq had been relentlessly hunted down.
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Trump further elaborated, stating, “Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. This operation was conducted in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government. “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!” he added.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that its forces, in cooperation with Iraqi intelligence and security forces, executed an airstrike in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, that resulted in the death of al-Rifai, labeled as the “Global ISIS #2 leader, Chief of Global Operations and the Delegated Committee Emir – Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, alias ‘Abu Khadijah,’ along with another ISIS operative.
CENTCOM stated, “As the Emir of ISIS’ most senior decision-making body, Abu Khadijah maintained responsibility for operations, logistics, and planning conducted by ISIS globally and directed a significant portion of finance for the group’s global organization.” After the strike, U.S. and Iraqi forces moved to the strike location and discovered both deceased ISIS targets wearing unexploded “suicide vests” and armed with multiple weapons.
U.S. and Iraqi forces were able to identify al-Rifai using DNA collected during a prior raid in which he narrowly escaped. General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander at CENTCOM, remarked, “Abu Khadijah was one of the most important ISIS members in the entire global ISIS organization. We will continue to kill terrorists and dismantle their organizations that threaten our homeland and U.S., allied and partner personnel in the region and beyond.”
