ISIS Leader Killed in Operation by Iraqi and U.S.-Led Forces

Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, the leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), was killed in an operation by members of the Iraqi national intelligence service along with U.S.-led coalition forces.

Al-Rifai, also known as "Abu Khadija," was described by Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani as "one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world."

U.S. President Donald Trump reacted to the news on his social media platform Truth Social, saying al-Rifai's "miserable life was terminated."

U.S. Central Command said in a statement that its forces, in cooperation with Iraqi Intelligence and security forces, conducted an 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."

After the strike, U.S. and Iraqi forces moved to the location of the strike and found both dead ISIS targets who were each wearing unexploded "suicide vests" and who had multiple weapons.

U.S. and Iraqi forces were able to identify al-Rifai using DNA collected in a previous raid where he narrowly escaped.

Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander at CENTCOM, said in a statement that "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 organizations that threaten our homeland and U.S., allied and partner personnel in the region and beyond.