“Trump Declares ‘His Miserable Life is Over’ Following Airstrike That Eliminates ISIS Leader in Iraq and Syria” | World News
Iraqi officials and US military commanders have reported the death of the Islamic State (IS) leader in Iraq and Syria following an airstrike in western Iraq.
In a message on Truth Social, Donald Trump stated that the “fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed” after being “relentlessly pursued by our brave warfighters. His wretched existence has finally ended”.
He further proclaimed: “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”
The details of the operation were shared by US Central Command (CENTCOM), which announced via X that “a precision airstrike in Al Anbar Province” had been executed in collaboration with Iraqi intelligence and security forces.
An image sequence showing a munition before it strikes a moving vehicle (left), the explosion (center), and the aftermath (right). Pic: US Central Command (CENTCOM)
The statement elaborated that the airstrike had “eliminated the global ISIS #2 leader, head of global operations, and the designated committee emir – Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, known as ‘Abu Khadijah’, along with another ISIS operative.”
After the operation, CENTCOM reported that their forces, in conjunction with Iraqi troops, inspected the site and discovered two bodies wearing unexploded “suicide vests” and carrying multiple weapons. They confirmed Abu Khadijah’s death through DNA analysis.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani referred to Khadija as “one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and globally” on Friday.
In a post on X, he asserted: “The Iraqis continue their commendable victories over the forces of darkness and terrorism.”
Information about the airstrike coincided with the first visit of Syria’s top diplomat to Iraq, where both nations committed to collaborating in the fight against IS.
Iraq’s PM engaged in discussions with Syria’s foreign minister in Baghdad on Friday, addressing the threat posed by IS. Pic: Iraqi Prime Minister Media Office/Reuters
The operation comes at a time when Iraqi officials express concern about a possible IS resurgence following the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al Assad in Syria.
While the new leaders in Syria, headed by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), have been pursuing remnants of IS since taking command, some are apprehensive about a potential lapse in security that might enable the group to make a comeback.
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Aftermath of violence in Syria
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In response to the operation against Khadija, the commander of US Central Command commented: “Abu Khadijah [Khadija] was among the top-tier members of the ISIS organization on a global scale.”
“We will persist in our efforts to eliminate terrorists and dismantle their networks that pose threats to our homeland, as well as to US, allied, and partner personnel in the region and beyond,” emphasized General Michael Erik Kurilla.
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Last year, the US and Iraq revealed plans to scale back the military mission of an American-led coalition against IS in Iraq by September 2025.
The objective has been to withdraw US forces from certain bases where they have been stationed throughout a nearly two-decade military engagement in the country.
