In a joint operation earlier this week, US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, in coordination with Iraqi Intelligence and Security Forces killed top ISIS leader Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, also known as “Abu Khadijah.”
The second-highest-ranking ISIS leader and the group’s chief of global operations was killed in a precision airstrike along with another ISIS operative, as revealed by Centcom.
“On March 13, US Central Command forces, in cooperation with Iraqi Intelligence and Security Forces, conducted a precision airstrike in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, that killed the Global ISIS #2 leader, Chief of Global Operations and the Delegated Committee Emir – Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, alias “Abu Khadijah”, and one other ISIS operative,” said the US central command
Following the airstrike, Centcom and Iraqi forces secured the site, where they identified Abu Khadijah through DNA matching from a previous raid. “After the strike, CENTCOM and Iraqi forces moved to the strike site and found both dead ISIS terrorists. Both terrorists were wearing unexploded “suicide vests” and had multiple weapons,” also said the US forces in their statement.
Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, highlighted the significance of the operation, stating, “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 organisations that threaten our homeland and US, allied, and partner personnel in the region and beyond.”
Earlier, President Donald Trump announced the killingof the ISIS leader in Iraq by US along with Iraqi and Kurdish forces. “Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Further, sharing credit with Iraq and Kurdish forces, he added, “His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”
The strike marks a major blow to ISIS leadership and is part of ongoing U.S. efforts to combat the terrorist organization.
Read more:‘Fugitive’ ISIS leader in Iraq ‘relentlessly hunted down’ and killed, says Trump
Who was ISIS ‘fugitive’ leader Abu Khadijah
Abu Khadijah held a key leadership position as the Emir of ISIS’ most senior decision-making body, responsible for overseeing the group’s global operations, logistics, and financial planning.
“As the Emir of ISIS’ most senior decision-making body, Abu Khadijah maintained responsibility for operations, logistics, and planning conducted by ISIS globally, and directs a significant portion of finance for the group’s global organization,” said the Centcom in its statement.
Considered one of the deadliest terrorists active in Iraq and internationally, his significant role in ISIS’s leadership hierarchy made him a prominent figure, and his status within the organisation had previously led to speculation about potential consideration to the position of ISIS’s global leader, known as the “caliph”.