Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifa, a senior leader of the Islamic State, has been killed in a coordinated operation involving Iraqi intelligence and US forces, as confirmed by Iraq’s Prime Minister.**
Key Islamic State Leader Neutralized in Joint Operation with US Forces**
Key Islamic State Leader Neutralized in Joint Operation with US Forces**
The Iraqi Prime Minister confirms the death of Islamic State's top operative, marking a significant blow to the organization.**
A prominent leader of the Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq and Syria has been confirmed dead following a collaborative military operation spearheaded by the Iraqi national intelligence service and US-led coalition forces, as announced by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifa, infamously known as Abu Khadija, has been labeled "one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world." US President Donald Trump took to social media to commend the efforts of US forces, stating that al-Rifa "was relentlessly hunted down" before his demise.
The US Central Command (Centcom) shared a video clip purportedly documenting the operation that took place in Al Anbar province, Iraq, on Thursday. Al-Rifa held a crucial role as the head of IS's senior decision-making body, overseeing various operations and logistical functions for the group globally. He was also linked to overseeing significant financial activities within the IS organization, Centcom revealed.
Trump emphasized on his Truth Social platform the collaboration with the Iraqi Government and Kurdish authorities that led to the termination of al-Rifa’s “miserable life.” He also noted that both al-Rifa and another ISIS member were found deceased wearing unexploded suicide vests and armed with multiple weapons.
Centcom reportedly identified al-Rifa through DNA collected from a previous raid where he narrowly escaped capture. General Michael Erik Kurilla remarked on the importance of this operation, stating, "Abu Khadijah was one of the most significant IS members in the entire global IS organisation.” He added that efforts to eliminate such terrorist threats would continue unabated across the region.
The Islamic State previously controlled vast territories in Iraq and Syria and imposed harsh governance over millions. Despite declaring defeat in 2017 and losing its last territory in 2019, remnants of the group still exist, causing concern over potential resurgence, particularly highlighted by recent warnings from Kurdish authorities in Syria.
