Iraqi Prime Minister announced on Friday that Iraqi National Intelligence Service, in conjunction with US-led coalition forces, killed a leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria during an operation within Iraqi territory.
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03-15, 2025Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter): "The Iraqi people continue to achieve brilliant victories over the forces of darkness and terrorism."
The statement noted that Abdullah Maki Mosleh Rifai, also known as "Abu Hajer," was the "deputy caliph" of the armed group and considered "one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world."
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on his Truth Social platform late Friday: "Today, the ISIS leader on the run in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our great warriors in coordination with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government." Trump also posted the slogan "Peace through Strength!"
A security official revealed that the operation was an airstrike conducted in Iraq's western Anbar province. Another official stated that the operation took place on Thursday night, but Rifai's death was confirmed on Friday. They requested anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.
The announcement comes as a senior Syrian diplomat made a first-ever visit to Iraq, with both countries pledging to work together to combat ISIS. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said at a press conference: "Syrian and Iraqi societies face common challenges, particularly the terrorists of ISIS."
Hussein stated that during the visit, the two sides "discussed in detail the movements of ISIS, whether on the Syrian-Iraqi border, inside Syria, or inside Iraq." He also mentioned that an operations room was established in Amman during a recent meeting between Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon to combat ISIS, and that this operations room is about to begin its work.
Relations between Iraq and Syria have been somewhat strained since the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Sudani rose to power with the backing of a coalition of Iranian-backed factions, while Tehran is a key supporter of Assad. Syria's current interim President, Ahmed Shala, previously known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, served as an al-Qaeda militant in Iraq after the 2003 U.S. invasion before fighting the Assad government in Syria.
But Syria's interim Foreign Minister, Assad Hassan Shibani, emphasized the historical ties between the two countries. "Throughout history, Baghdad and Damascus have been capitals of the Arab and Islamic worlds, sharing knowledge, culture, and economics," he said. Strengthening the partnership between the two countries "will not only benefit our people but will also contribute to the stability of the region, allowing us to reduce our dependence on external forces and better determine our own destiny."
The operation and visit come as Iraqi officials express concerns about a possible resurgence of ISIS following Assad's ouster in Syria. While Syria's new rulers—led by the former Islamist insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham—have been hunting down ISIS militants since taking office, some fear that a collapse in the overall security situation could allow the group to make a comeback.
The United States and Iraq announced an agreement last year to end the U.S.-led coalition's military mission in Iraq by September 2025, with U.S. troops withdrawing from some of the bases they have occupied during their 20-year military presence in the country.
When the agreement to end the coalition's mission in Iraq was reached, Iraqi political leaders said that the threat of ISIS had been contained and that they no longer needed Washington's help to repel the remaining militants. But some have reevaluated that position since Assad was ousted in December, including members of the Coordination Framework, a coalition of primarily Shiite, Iran-aligned political parties that propelled current Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to power in late 2022.
