Iraqi prime minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced on Friday that Abdullah Maki Musleh al-Rifai, known as Abu Khadija, the leader of terror group ISIS in Iraq and Syria has been killed. This operation was conducted by Iraqi security forces in collaboration with the US-led coalition.
Abu Khadija was considered one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and globally.
Abu Khadija was a significant figure within ISIS’s hierarchy and was previously mentioned as a possible candidate for the role of ISIS’s global leader, known as the “caliph”, due to his senior position in the organisation. His death represents a significant blow to ISIS’s operations in the region.
ISIS has faced numerous leadership losses in recent years, including the death of its former leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019.
Since then, the group has struggled to maintain a stable leadership structure, with several successors being killed in rapid succession. Despite these challenges, ISIS continues to pose a threat through its affiliates and networks across the Middle East and beyond.
