The leader of the ISIS group has been killed by Iraqi security forces, with help from the US-led coalition. This was confirmed by Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. The operation took place on Friday, targeting Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufay’i, also known as Abu Khadija. Al-Sudani described him as one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and worldwide.
In 2017, Iraq declared victory over ISIS after reclaiming all the land the group had taken since 2014. However, ISIS still has sleeper cells in various regions of Iraq and continues to carry out sporadic attacks. The prime minister praised the ongoing efforts of Iraqi forces in combating terrorism and highlighted the importance of this recent victory.
The announcement of Abu Khadija’s death coincided with a visit from Syria’s interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani to Iraq. During his visit, al-Shaibani expressed Syria’s willingness to enhance cooperation with Iraq in the fight against ISIS. He emphasized that terrorism does not recognize borders and that security is a shared responsibility.
Al-Shaibani also mentioned that one of the goals of his trip was to boost trade between Syria and Iraq. The two countries have had a complicated relationship, especially after the Syrian civil war began in 2011, which saw Iraq support the Assad regime. The border between Iraq and Syria was closed for security reasons after the conflict escalated.
This recent development highlights the ongoing challenges faced by both Iraq and Syria in dealing with the remnants of ISIS and the importance of collaboration in addressing security threats.