Trump announces killing of 'fugitive' ISIS leader in Iraq.
US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday, March 15, 2025, that the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq, Abdullah Maqi Musleh al-Rifai, also known as Abu Khadija, was killed in a coordinated operation by US, Iraqi and Kurdish forces.
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Abu Khadija was a high-ranking ISIS operative known for his deadly influence within the organization. He was considered a potential contender for the position of global leader or "caliph" of ISIS due to his prominent role in the group's command structure.
The operation was carried out through airstrikes in Iraq's western Anbar province, and it took place on Thursday night, with the announcement made on Friday.
The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, confirmed the operation and identified the slain ISIS leader as Abdullah Maqi Musleh al-Rifai, also known as Abu Khadija. In a statement on X, al-Sudani praised the efforts of the Iraqi security forces and the US-led coalition, and called Abu Khadija "one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world". He said the elimination of Abu Khadija was another important victory in Iraq's ongoing fight against terrorism.
Trump called the operation a major setback to ISIS and thanked the countries of Russia, Turkey, Syria and Iraq, as well as the Syrian Kurds, for their support. He also thanked the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines involved in the operation, saying "you are the best in the world".
The operation was the result of 36 hours of negotiations at the White House, as officials sought approval for the strike and then monitored the results. Sharing the news on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said, "Today the fugitive leader of ISIS was killed in Iraq. Our fearless war fighters pursued him relentlessly." Shortly after Trump's post, the White House shared footage of the airstrike used to eliminate Abu Khadija.
"This individual has recruited terrorists from around the world, trained them to murder innocent people, and sent them back to the West to conduct jihadist attacks in more than one country," Sebastian Gorka, Trump's senior counterterrorism director, said in a statement. Gorka said Melamin was well known to US intelligence agencies.
Trump's announcement came on the same day Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asad al-Shaibani was on a visit to Iraq, where he expressed a readiness to increase cooperation in fighting the remnants of ISIS. "Security is a shared responsibility," al-Shaibani said during a joint press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.
The Islamic State is a violent Sunni jihadist group that calls itself a caliphate and claims religious authority over all Muslims. Its Somali branch has played a bigger role amid reports that its leader Abdulkadir Mumin has taken over global control of the movement. However, a recent airstrike in Somalia killed an ISIS leader believed to be responsible for recruiting militants for operations in the West, named Ahmed Malminin, a senior ISIS recruiter, financier and external operations leader.
The announcement of Abu Khadija's death marks another significant victory in the fight against ISIS, following the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019. Al-Baghdadi, who led jihadists responsible for thousands of deaths, was killed during a US military operation in northwestern Syria.
Trump's announcement of Abu Khadija's death is being seen as a major victory for him as he is facing criticism for his decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria and facing an impeachment inquiry launched by the Democrats. This operation reflects the continued commitment of the US and its allies to the permanent and complete defeat of ISIS and other terrorist organizations.
In short, the killing of Abu Khadija is a major blow to ISIS, demonstrating the effectiveness of coordinated efforts between US, Iraqi and Kurdish forces. This operation highlights the importance of international cooperation in the ongoing fight against terrorism and in combating the remnants of ISIS.