President Donald Trump announced Friday night that the United States had killed the fugitive leader of ISIS after he was “relentlessly” pursued.
“Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”
Shortly after Trump’s post, U.S. Central Command shared video of the airstrike that took out Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, also known as Abu Khadijah, and a second ISIS operative. Abu Khadijah was the chief of global operations and the delegated committee emir for ISIS and officially the second-in-command for the Islamic terrorist organization.
CENTCOM Forces Kill ISIS Chief of Global Operations Who Also Served as ISIS #2
On March 13, U.S. Central Command forces, in cooperation with Iraqi Intelligence and Security Forces, conducted a precision airstrike in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, that killed the Global ISIS #2 leader,… pic.twitter.com/rWeEoUY7Lw
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 15, 2025
According to CENTCOM, the precision airstrike was conducted in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, in conjunction with Iraqi intelligence and security forces. CENTCOM added that Abu Khadijah “maintained responsibility for operations, logistics, and planning conducted by ISIS globally, and directs a significant portion of finance for the group’s global organization.”
Both American and Iraqi forces moved to the strike site and discovered two ISIS terrorists dead with undetonated suicide vests and weapons, U.S. officials said. CENTCOM noted that they confirmed Abu Khadijah was dead after matching DNA from the site to DNA they obtained after he “narrowly escaped” an earlier raid.
“Abu Khadijah was one of the most important ISIS members in the entire global ISIS organization. We will continue to kill terrorists and dismantle their organizations that threaten our homeland and U.S., allied and partner personnel in the region and beyond,” said United States Central Command General Michael Erik Kurilla.
Trump administration officials celebrated the airstrike, calling it a win for safety.
“Big news. The world is a safer place with Donald Trump as America’s Commander in Chief,” said Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Big news.
The world is a safer place with Donald Trump as America’s Commander in Chief. pic.twitter.com/zyfX2s3LmX
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) March 15, 2025
“Well done @CENTCOM. Always on target,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X.
Well done @CENTCOM. Always on target. https://t.co/6IsJigajSw
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) March 15, 2025
