WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the leader of ISIS in Iraq, along with another unidentified member of the group, was killed in a joint operation involving US, Iraqi, and Kurdish forces.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani confirmed the operation and identified the slain militant as Abdullah Maki Musleh al-Rifai, also known as Abu Khadija. In a statement on X, al-Sudani praised the efforts of Iraqi security forces and the US-led coalition, calling Abu Khadija “one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world.” He added that his elimination was a major step in Iraq’s ongoing fight against terrorism.
Trump shared the news on his social media platform, Truth Social, saying, “Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters.” Shortly after his post, the White House released footage of the airstrike that led to Abu Khadija’s death.
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Trump further emphasized the collaborative effort, stating, “His miserable life was terminated, along with another ISIS member, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”
Abu Khadija was a high-ranking ISIS operative and a key figure in the group’s command structure. He was reportedly being considered for the position of the organisation’s global leader, or “caliph.”
A security official told the Associated Press that the operation was carried out through an airstrike in Iraq’s western Anbar province. Another official confirmed that the strike took place on Thursday night. The announcement of his death came on Friday, coinciding with the visit of Syria’s Foreign Minister Assas Al-Shaybani to Iraq, as both countries continue their coordinated efforts against ISIS.