Lagatar24 Desk
Baghdad: In a precision airstrike conducted in coordination with Iraqi Intelligence and Security Forces, the United States announced the elimination of Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, also known as “Abu Khadijah,” in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province. The March 13 strike also killed another ISIS operative.
Abu Khadijah was the Chief of Global Operations for the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) and served as the group’s second-in-command worldwide.
Abu Khadijah’s Role in ISIS
According to US military officials, Abu Khadijah was responsible for overseeing:
• Global logistics
• Operational planning
• Financial management for ISIS activities
The US Central Command (CENTCOM), alongside Iraqi forces, confirmed his identity through a DNA match from a prior raid in which he escaped capture.
CENTCOM’s Statement on the Strike
“Abu Khadijah was one of the most important ISIS members in the entire global ISIS organization. We will continue to kill terrorists and dismantle organizations that threaten our homeland, our allies, and our partners,” said General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of US CENTCOM.
Iraq Hails the Operation
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani described Abu Khadijah as “one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world.”
The operation was carried out with support from the US-led coalition, according to an official statement from Baghdad.
Trump Reacts to ISIS Leader’s Death
Former US President Donald Trump, reacting to the operation, wrote on Truth Social:
“Today, the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our warfighters. His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government.”
He ended his message with: “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”
US Troops in Iraq & Ongoing ISIS Threat
Despite the territorial defeat of ISIS in Iraq (2017) and Syria (2019), remnants of the group continue to carry out sporadic attacks in remote areas.
Currently, 2,500 US troops remain stationed in Iraq to support counterterrorism efforts and train Iraqi security forces.
