U.S. military forces, in collaboration with Iraqi intelligence and security services, have killed a high-ranking leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group in an airstrike in western Iraq, officials from both countries confirmed on Friday.
The individual, identified as Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, also known as ‘Abu Khadijah,’ held the position of “deputy caliph” within the extremist group and was considered one of the most dangerous terrorists both in Iraq and globally.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani praised the operation in a statement, noting the significant blow to ISIS’ leadership structure.
In a social media post, U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the operation as a success. “The fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters.
His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS,” Trump wrote.
He also emphasized the role of coordination between the Iraqi government and Kurdish forces, stating, “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”
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Abu Khadijah, the “Global ISIS #2 leader” and “Chief of Global Operations,” was killed in a precision airstrike on Thursday in Iraq’s Al Anbar province. Both he and another ISIS member were found dead at the strike site, each wearing unexploded suicide vests and carrying multiple weapons.
The identities of the deceased were confirmed through DNA matching, which was obtained after a previous raid where Abu Khadijah narrowly escaped.
As a senior figure in ISIS, Abu Khadijah was responsible for a wide array of operations, logistics, and planning activities for the group across the globe.
He also managed a significant portion of ISIS’ financing, helping fund terror operations worldwide.
Iraqi Prime Minister al-Sudani emphasized the continued victories over terrorism, stating that Iraq’s forces were resolute in their fight against the “forces of darkness and terrorism.”
Although ISIS lost much of its territorial control nearly six years ago, the group continues to operate in various regions, inspiring attacks and recruiting operatives globally.
The U.S. and Iraqi operation signals an ongoing effort to dismantle the terrorist organization’s remaining influence.
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