Cliff Notes – His miserable life was terminated
- The head of Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria, Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, also known as ‘Abu Khadijah’, was killed in a US and Iraqi airstrike in Al Anbar Province, confirmed by CENTCOM.
- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani labelled Khadijah as “one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world,” highlighting ongoing concerns about IS resurgence.
- The operation coincided with diplomatic talks between Iraq and Syria regarding the ongoing threat from IS, amidst fears of security breakdown allowing the group to regain strength.
An airstrike kills head of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria
The head of Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria has been killed in an airstrike in western Iraq, according to Iraqi officials and US military commanders.
Donald Trump celebrated the death on Truth Social ( Not X) the “fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed” after being “relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters. His miserable life was terminated”.
He added: “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!” Details of the operation in Iraq have been described by US Central Command (CENTCOM) which said on X it had conducted “a precision airstrike in Al Anbar Province” in cooperation with Iraqi intelligence and security forces.
The statement added that the airstrike had “killed the global ISIS #2 leader, chief of global operations and the delegated committee emir – Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, alias ‘Abu Khadijah’ [Khadija], and one other ISIS operative”.
CENTCOM said their forces and Iraqi troops examined
Following the attack, CENTCOM said their forces and Iraqi troops examined the site and found two bodies, which were wearing unexploded “suicide vests” and had multiple weapons. It added that Abu Khadija’s death was confirmed using DNA tests.
On Friday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani described Khadija as “one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world”.
In a statement on X, he added: “The Iraqis continue their impressive victories over the forces of darkness and terrorism.” Details of the airstrike coincided with the first visit by Syria’s top diplomat to Iraq, during which the two countries pledged to work together to combat IS.
The operation comes at a time when Iraqi officials are anxious about an IS resurgence after the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al Assad in Syria. While Syria’s new rulers – led by the Islamist former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) – have pursued IS cells since taking power, some fear a breakdown in overall security that could allow the group to stage a resurgence.
Aftermath of violence in Syria
Commenting on the operation against Khadija, the commander of US Central Command said: “Abu Khadijah [Khadija] was one of the most important ISIS members in the entire global ISIS organisation.”
“We will continue to kill terrorists and dismantle their organizations that threaten our homeland and US, allied and partner personnel in the region and beyond,” added General Michael Erik Kurilla.
America’s invasion of Iraq
The US and Iraq announced an agreement to wind down the military mission in Iraq of an American-led invasion to remove Saddam Hussein from power, which resulted in the formation of IS. Fighting the IS for over a decade has claimed the lives of thousands of American soldiers.
The intention has been for US forces to leave some bases by September 2025, where they have stationed troops during a two-decade-long military presence in the country.