A joint Iraqi and US operation has killed a senior Islamic State leader believed to be the group’s head in Iraq and Syria. The airstrike occurred on Friday, according to Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufay’i, also known as Abu Khadija, was considered one of the world’s most dangerous terrorists.
The killing comes amid a resurgence of ISIS attacks in Syria, with over 300 incidents reported in 2024 alone, according to the United Nations. The group has reconstituted itself since losing control of territory in Iraq and Syria six years ago.
Al-Rufay’i was believed to coordinate among fighters in multiple countries, including Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and others. He is the third ISIS leader killed in the region since 2019. The organization’s structure has evolved, with some activities controlled centrally and others left to its branches.
The strike marks a significant blow to ISIS, which now operates affiliates in over a dozen countries across three continents.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/world/middleeast/islamic-state-leader-killed-iraq-us.html