BREAKING: USA eliminates ISIS #2 Abu Khadijah

President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform to announce the death of a senior ISIS leader in Iraq, proclaiming, “Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters. His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”

The announcement aligns with reports from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and Iraqi officials confirming the killing of Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufayi, also known as Abu Khadijah, in a precision airstrike in Iraq’s Anbar Province on Thursday night.

Who Was Abu Khadijah?

Identified by CENTCOM as ISIS’s second-in-command globally, Abu Khadijah served as the Emir of the group’s most senior decision-making body, overseeing operations, logistics, planning, and a significant portion of its global financing. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani hailed him as “one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world,” noting his role as the “deputy caliph” responsible for ISIS’s foreign operations. Sanctioned by the U.S. in 2023, al-Rufayi had narrowly escaped a prior raid, but DNA evidence collected at the Anbar strike site—matched to earlier samples—confirmed his death alongside another operative. Both were found wearing undetonated suicide vests, surrounded by weapons, underscoring their intent to fight to the end.

The Operation

CENTCOM detailed a coordinated effort with Iraqi Intelligence and Security Forces, striking a vehicle in the western desert of Anbar Province on March 13. Video footage released by the White House shows the moment of impact, with Trump’s team captioning it, “President Trump Terminates ISIS Leader in Targeted Strike.” General Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, emphasized the blow to ISIS: “Abu Khadijah was one of the most important members in the entire global ISIS organization. We will continue to kill terrorists and dismantle their networks that threaten our homeland.” No U.S. or Iraqi casualties were reported, though the operation’s success hinges on years of intelligence work tracking al-Rufayi’s movements.

Trump’s Claim and Broader Context

Trump’s announcement frames the killing as a testament to his “Peace Through Strength” doctrine, a recurring theme from his first term when he oversaw the 2019 raid that killed ISIS founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. That operation, too, saw Trump vividly describe the target’s demise—“he died like a dog, whimpering and crying”—a rhetorical flourish echoed in his latest claim of al-Rufayi’s “miserable life” ending. The timing aligns with Trump’s second term, begun in January 2025, and follows a pattern of touting military victories against ISIS, including the 2019 killing of Baghdadi’s presumed successor, Abu Hassan al-Muhajir.

This strike comes amid a shifting Middle East landscape. The same day, Syria’s Foreign Minister visited Iraq to pledge joint efforts against ISIS, reflecting fears of a resurgence following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Reactions and Implications

Iraq’s al-Sudani praised the operation as a victory over “the forces of darkness,” while Trump’s post drew cheers from supporters on X, with users like @JDVance_News exclaiming, “LFG! ” Posts on X also speculated on Democratic backlash, with @SpeakFreely1789 asking, “What bad things will Democrats say about President Trump now?” The strike bolsters Trump’s image as a decisive commander-in-chief, though it occurs as the U.S. plans to wind down its anti-ISIS coalition mission in Iraq by September 2025, per a 2024 agreement—a deadline now under scrutiny given ISIS’s persistent threat.

What’s Next?

Abu Khadijah’s death is a significant blow to ISIS, but the group’s resilience—evident in its affiliates and the estimated 14,000–18,000 fighters remaining in Iraq and Syria—suggests the fight is far from over. Trump’s announcement, while triumphant, raises questions about the U.S.’s long-term strategy as it reduces its footprint in Iraq.

ABC News, Fox News, Daily Wire, Sky News, CNN, N12 and NBC contributed to this article.