The United States Announces the Killing of ISIS Leader in Iraq and Syria
United States Announces the Killing of ISIS Leader in Iraq and Syria
The United States Announces the Killing of ISIS Leader in Iraq and Syria
Iraq’s Prime Minister has announced the killing of a senior leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria during an operation carried out by Iraq’s National Intelligence Service, in coordination with the U.S.-led international coalition forces.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani stated that Abdullah Maki Musleh Al-Rifa’i, also known as Abu Khadija, was considered “one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world.”
Former U.S. President Donald Trump commented, saying, “Our brave fighters relentlessly pursued him.”
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that it carried out a “precision airstrike” in Anbar province, western Iraq, on Thursday, which resulted in the death of “one of ISIS’s most significant members.”
CENTCOM added that Al-Rifa’i was the head of ISIS’s highest decision-making body and was responsible for overseeing operations, logistics, and global planning for the organization.
Furthermore, he managed a significant portion of the group’s international financing.
President Trump, in a post on his platform “Truth Social,” said, “His miserable life has come to an end, along with another ISIS member, in coordination with the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government. Peace through strength!”
CENTCOM reported that Al-Rifa’i was found dead alongside another ISIS member.
It also stated, “Both terrorists were found wearing suicide vests that hadn’t been detonated and were carrying multiple weapons.”
The U.S. military and Iraqi forces were able to confirm his identity by matching DNA samples collected during a previous raid in which he had “miraculously escaped.”
General Michael Erik Kurilla described Al-Rifa’i as “one of the most important figures in ISIS’s global network.”
He added, “We will continue eliminating terrorists and dismantling the organizations that threaten our homeland, U.S. personnel, and our allies and partners in the region and beyond.”
ISIS: A Persistent Threat, a Decade After Its Peak
At its height, ISIS controlled approximately 88,000 square kilometers (34,000 square miles) of territory, stretching from northeastern Syria to northern Iraq, ruling over nearly eight million people under its brutal regime.
Iraq declared victory over ISIS in December 2017, and the group was expelled from its last strongholds in 2019.
However, militants and sleeper cells continue to operate in different parts of the country, launching occasional attacks on Iraqi military and police forces.
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