Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced Friday that the leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria was killed in an operation conducted by Iraqi national intelligence forces with support from the U.S.-led coalition.
“The Iraqi people continue their remarkable victories against the forces of darkness and terrorism,” al-Sudani stated on X, formerly Twitter.
The slain militant, Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, known as “Abu Khadija,” was identified as ISIS's “deputy caliph” and one of the world’s most dangerous terrorists, according to the statement.
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U.S. President Donald Trump also confirmed the operation on Truth Social, saying, “Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our brave warfighters in coordination with the Iraqi and Kurdish governments.” He ended the post with, “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”
A security official, speaking anonymously, confirmed the operation took place in Iraq’s western Anbar province via an airstrike. Another official stated that the raid occurred Thursday night, with confirmation of al-Rifai's death coming on Friday.
The announcement coincided with the first official visit of Syria’s top diplomat to Iraq, where both nations pledged to intensify efforts against ISIS. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein emphasized shared security concerns, particularly regarding ISIS movements along the Syrian-Iraqi border.
Hussein also highlighted a recently formed regional operations center involving Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon to combat ISIS threats.
While Iraq and Syria have a complex relationship—especially following the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad—their officials stressed the importance of cooperation. Syrian interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani pointed to historical ties between Baghdad and Damascus, emphasizing that stronger collaboration would enhance regional stability.
The operation and diplomatic discussions come amid concerns of an ISIS resurgence following Assad’s downfall. Despite Iraq previously asserting that ISIS no longer posed a major threat, some political factions have reconsidered their stance, fearing security instability in Syria could spill over into Iraq.
The U.S. and Iraq had agreed last year to gradually wind down the American-led coalition’s military presence by September 2025, marking the end of a two-decade-long mission. However, recent developments have reignited debates over whether Iraq still requires external support to contain ISIS threats.