U.S. Strikes ISIS Leadership: Key Commander Abu Khadija Killed

The United States has struck a significant blow against the Islamic State (ISIS) by conducting an airstrike that eliminated Abdullah Makki Muslih Al-Rifai, also known as Abu Khadija, the group’s global operations chief.

Acting on intelligence provided by Iraqi security forces, the U.S. Air Force launched the airstrike on March 13. According to reports, Abu Khadija, who was the second-in-command within the ISIS hierarchy, was killed along with another militant in the attack. Authorities confirmed his identity through DNA testing.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani responded to the development, stating that Abu Khadija was one of the most dangerous terrorists, not only in Iraq but globally. He acknowledged the successful execution of the operation with U.S. cooperation.

The U.S. Central Command shared footage of the airstrike on its social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), further confirming the strike’s execution.