The leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria, Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, also known as “Abu Khadija,” has been killed in an airstrike during a joint operation by Iraqi national intelligence forces and the US-led coalition. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani confirmed the development on Friday, describing al-Rifai as ISIS’s “deputy caliph” and one of the most dangerous terrorists in the world.
“The Iraqis continue their impressive victories over the forces of darkness and terrorism,” al-Sudani stated in a message on X (formerly Twitter).
Former US President Donald Trump also commented on the operation via his Truth Social platform, stating: “Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters” in coordination with Iraqi and Kurdish authorities. He ended his message with: “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”
A security official disclosed that the operation took place in Anbar province, western Iraq, on Thursday night, with confirmation of al-Rifai’s death coming the following day. The official spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the information.
The announcement coincided with the visit of Syria’s interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani to Baghdad, during which Iraqi and Syrian officials pledged continued cooperation in the fight against ISIS. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein emphasized the shared security challenges between the two nations and highlighted an operations room established by Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon to counter ISIS movements in the region.
While Iraq and Syria have historically maintained strong ties, their relationship has been complicated by past conflicts, particularly following the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The new Syrian leadership, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has actively pursued ISIS remnants, but concerns remain over potential security gaps that could enable a resurgence of the group.
This development comes amid preparations for the gradual withdrawal of US-led coalition forces from Iraq, set to be completed by September 2025. The agreement was initially based on the belief that the ISIS threat was under control. However, the situation in Syria following Assad’s fall has led some Iraqi leaders to reconsider their stance, particularly within the Iran-backed Coordination Framework coalition that helped bring al-Sudani to power in 2022.
Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/head-of-isis-in-iraq-and-syria-killed-in-airstrike-during-us-iraqi-joint-operation/