US-led airstrike eliminates ISIS's global operations chief
What's the story
A coordinated airstrike on March 13 in Iraq's Al Anbar Province has killed Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, aka "Abu Khadijah."
The operation was conducted by the US in collaboration with Iraqi Intelligence and Security Forces.
Khadijah held a significant position within the Islamic State (ISIS), serving as its Chief of Global Operations and second-in-command.
Another ISIS operative was also killed in the operation.
Operations chief
Abu Khadijah's role and demise
Abu Khadijah was in charge of logistics, planning, and finances for ISIS globally.
After the airstrike, US Central Command (CENTCOM) and Iraqi forces confirmed his death along with another ISIS fighter.
Both men were found wearing unexploded suicide vests and armed with multiple weapons.
His identity was confirmed through a DNA match using samples collected from an earlier raid when he had narrowly escaped capture.
Official reactions
US and Iraqi leaders commend operation
General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, lauded the operation saying "Abu Khadijah was one of the most important ISIS members in the entire global ISIS organization."
He vowed to continue efforts to eliminate terrorists and dismantle their organizations.
Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also praised the operation, calling Abu Khadijah "one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world."
Ongoing threat
US sanctions and ISIS's continued presence
The US had sanctioned Abu Khadijah in 2023, describing him as the so-called governor of ISIS-held areas in Iraq and Syria. He was also in charge of overseeing the group's foreign operations.
Though ISIS was territorially defeated in Iraq in 2017, remnants of the terror outfit have continued to operate, carrying out intermittent attacks on Iraqi security forces.
About 2,500 US troops remain in Iraq to assist counterterrorism operations and train Iraqi forces.
Leadership instability
ISIS's leadership challenges and future threats
Abu Khadijah was a senior ISIS operative with a lethal influence in the organization.
He was seen as a potential contender for the title of ISIS's global leader, or "caliph," considering his prominent position in the command structure of the group.
Since former leader Baghdadi's death in 2019, ISIS has struggled to maintain a stable leadership structure, with several successors eliminated in rapid succession.