Abu Khadija, ISIS Leader and Notorious Terrorist Killed in Joint Iraqi-US Operation

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Abdullah Maki Musleh al-Rifai, also known as Abu Khadija, the leader of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, was killed in a counterterrorism operation, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani confirmed on Friday. Abu Khadija, described as "one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world," was eliminated by Iraqi security forces in collaboration with the US-led coalition fighting ISIS. This operation marks a significant milestone in the fight against terrorism in the region.

🚨 Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani announced today (Friday) that Iraqi security forces, in cooperation with the US, have eliminated Abdullah Makki Muslah al-Rifai, known as Abu Khadija, the leader of the Islamic State organization in Iraq and Syria.🔻 pic.twitter.com/E0S1jEUTjd

— Zoya ★ (@RealZoya1) March 14, 2025

Under Abu Khadija’s leadership, ISIS had been attempting to regain strength in Iraq, Syria and even expand its influence into the West and Asia. Previously, ISIS had imposed a brutal Islamist rule over millions in Syria and Iraq. However, the group’s influence significantly declined after the death of its former leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in 2019. Al-Baghdadi had declared a caliphate over much of Iraq and Syria in 2014, but his reign ended when US special forces conducted a raid in northwest Syria.

Abu Khadija was believed to have played a key role in organizing attacks and recruiting fighters for ISIS and his death is expected to severely undermine the group's leadership and operational capacity in the region. The loss of such a high-ranking figure is seen as a major blow to the ongoing operations of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, though challenges to security in the region remain.