BAGHDAD — The leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has been eliminated through a joint operation by Iraqi national intelligence and U.S.-led coalition forces, as announced by Iraq’s prime minister on Friday. This development underscores Iraq’s continuing efforts to combat extremist elements within its borders.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani declared, “The Iraqis continue their impressive victories over the forces of darkness and terrorism,” conveying his statement on X, formerly Twitter. The slain leader, identified as Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, also known as “Abu Khadija,” held the position of “deputy caliph” within the militant group and was tagged as one of the most perilous terrorists globally.
In response, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, confirming the elimination of the ISIS leader in Iraq. “Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters,” Trump stated, emphasizing the cooperation with Iraqi and Kurdish regional governments. He underscored his statement with the phrase, “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”
A security source revealed the operation involved an airstrike in Anbar province, located in western Iraq, while another official mentioned the operation occurred on Thursday night, with the confirmation of al-Rifai’s death arriving on Friday. These officials preferred to remain anonymous, as they were not authorized to discuss the operation publicly.
Coinciding with this operation, Syria’s top diplomat made his first visit to Iraq, where both nations vowed to collaborate in combating IS. During a news conference, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein discussed the mutual challenges faced by Syrian and Iraqi societies, especially concerning IS terrorists. He detailed discussions about IS activities along the Syrian-Iraqi border and within both countries.
Hussein also referenced an operations center created by Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon during a recent Amman meeting to counter IS, noting that work would soon commence to address related threats.
Though relations between Iraq and Syria have been tense post the downfall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, there have been efforts to focus on historical alliances. The current interim Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, highlighted the rich shared history between Baghdad and Damascus as cultural and economic capitals of the Arab and Islamic world.
He emphasized, “Strengthening the partnership between the two countries will not only benefit our peoples, but will also contribute to the stability of the region, making us less dependent on external powers and better able to determine our own destiny.”
With the fall of Assad, Iraqi officials are wary of a potential IS resurgence. Syria’s rulers, now led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, have been suppressing IS cells, but fears linger that security disruptions could facilitate a group revival.
Previously, the U.S. and Iraq had agreed to conclude the American-led military mission in Iraq by September 2025, with U.S. forces planning to withdraw from numerous bases after nearly two decades. When this agreement was reached, Iraqi leaders believed the IS threat was manageable and that Washington’s assistance was no longer essential to dismantle remaining cells.
However, Assad’s fall prompted a reevaluation of this position, particularly among the Coordination Framework, a coalition of Shiite, Iran-aligned political parties that supported the rise of Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani in late 2022.