The leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has been killed in Iraq during an operation involving the Iraqi national intelligence service and U.S.-led coalition forces, according to a statement made by Iraq’s Prime Minister on this Friday.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani praised Iraq’s continued victories over terrorism, stating, “The Iraqis continue their impressive victories over the forces of darkness and terrorism.”
The militant leader, Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, also known as “Abu Khadija,” was the “deputy caliph” of ISIS and described as one of the most dangerous terrorists both in Iraq and globally.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the death of the ISIS leader in a post on Truth Social, adding that the operation was carried out with cooperation from the Iraqi government and Kurdish authorities. He also expressed his approval, writing, “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”
According to a security official, the operation took place via an airstrike in Anbar province, Iraq, with a second official adding that the attack occurred on Thursday night but al-Rifai’s death was confirmed on Friday. These officials spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to comment publicly.
The announcement coincided with the first visit by Syria’s foreign minister to Iraq, where both countries committed to stronger collaboration in the fight against ISIS. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein noted the common threats posed by ISIS to both nations and said they discussed the movements of the terror group across both borders.
Hussein also mentioned a joint operations room formed by Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon to combat ISIS, which will soon begin operations.
The two countries have a complex relationship, especially following the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Al-Sudani’s administration, backed by Iran, has ties to Syria due to Tehran’s support for Assad. Syria’s interim foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, highlighted the historical connections between Baghdad and Damascus, stressing that strengthening bilateral ties would benefit their people and regional stability.
The announcement of the operation and the diplomatic visit occur amidst concerns in Iraq about the potential resurgence of ISIS, particularly following the fall of Assad’s regime in Syria. While Syria’s new leaders, including the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, have been targeting ISIS cells, there are fears that weakening security could lead to a resurgence of the terror group.
In light of these developments, Iraq and the U.S. had previously agreed to wind down the American-led coalition’s military mission in Iraq by September 2025. Although Iraqi leaders initially deemed ISIS largely defeated, the instability in Syria following Assad’s fall has led to reassessment of the situation, especially among groups within Iraq’s political coalition that helped bring Prime Minister al-Sudani to power.
