Trump: We killed the leader of the Islamic State in Iraq in coordination with Baghdad

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday evening that the American forces killed the leader of the Islamic State in Iraq, Abdullah Makki Musleh Al -Rifai, known as “Abu Khadija”, in coordination with the Iraqi government and the government of the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

Trump confirmed through his “Truth Suosal” platform that the American forces “chased ISIS leader in Iraq unabated” until he was eliminated with one of his companions.

According to the statement of the US Central Command (Centcom), the air strike targeted one of the most important military leaders in the organization, who was the second leader of the Islamic State, the World Operations Officer and the Emir of the Deposed Committee.

The leadership explained that Abu Khadija was responsible for planning, logistics and financing within the organization, which made him “one of the most dangerous terrorists in the world.”

After the implementation of the strike in Anbar Governorate in cooperation with the Iraqi intelligence and security forces, the American forces moved to their position, where the bodies of the targets were found, and they were wearing unnamed suicide jackets, and the identity of Al -Rifai was confirmed through the analysis of DNA.

A great security achievement

For his part, the Iraqi Prime Minister, Muhammad Shi’a Al -Sudani, described the process as a “great victory against terrorism”, stressing that Iraqi intelligence played a pivotal role in determining and liquidating Abu Khadija’s location.

Al -Sudani said in a statement: “This terrorist was the position of the so -called governor of Iraq and Syria in the organization, and he was responsible for carrying out the external operations of ISIS.”

The Iraqi Deputy Commander of the Joint Operations, Qais Al -Muhammadawi, also indicated that the Iraqi forces arrested a number of members of the organization linked to the Abu Khadija cell, considering that his liquidation represents a severe blow to the remains of the Islamic State in Iraq.

For his part, the commander of the US Central Command, General Michael Eric Corella, stressed that the United States “will continue to eliminate terrorists and dismantle their organizations,” adding that Abu Khadija was one of the most important elements of the organization globally.

“This process is a clear message to everyone who threatens the security of the United States and its allies: we will pursue you wherever you are.”

This process comes at a time when the Islamic State is still active in some Iraqi regions, especially in Anbar, Salahuddin, Kirkuk and Diyala, despite Baghdad declaring its official defeat in 2017.

According to the United Nations report, the Islamic State still maintains financial reserves of $ 10 million, and some of its fleeing leaders have resorted to Syria and Turkey to reorganize their ranks.

Security experts believe that the killing of Abu Khadija will weaken the organization’s ability to carry out external operations, but it will not be completely eliminated, as he is expected to try to compensate for his loss by appointing a new leader in Iraq and Syria.