A senior Islamic State (IS) leader, Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifa, also known as Abu Khadija, was killed in a joint operation by the Iraqi National Intelligence Service and US-led coalition forces in Iraq’s western Al Anbar province.
Al-Rifa was considered one of the most dangerous terrorists globally and served as the head of IS’s senior decision-making body, overseeing operations, logistics, planning, and financing for the group’s global network.
US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed that al-Rifa and another IS operative were found dead, both wearing unexploded suicide vests and carrying multiple weapons. Identification was confirmed through DNA collected from a previous raid.
US President Donald Trump praised the operation, stating that the killing of al-Rifa was achieved through coordination with the Iraqi and Kurdish Regional Governments. Centcom Commander Gen Michael Erik Kurilla emphasized that the US will continue targeting IS members to prevent threats to the region and beyond.
Although IS lost its territorial control in Iraq and Syria by 2019, sleeper cells continue to pose a threat through sporadic attacks on Iraqi forces.