How was ISIS' second-in-command killed in Iraq?
Kirkuk land restoration on hold pending guidelines for new law
Man arrested in Baghdad for inciting violence outside Syrian embassy
Iraq electricity ministry to visit Turkmenistan to initiate gas imports
Kurdish security council slams Sudani for omitting credit in anti-ISIS op
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Islamic State's (ISIS) second-in-command globally and the group's top man in Iraq and Syria was killed on Friday in an operation that was the culmination of two years of investigations and raids by Iraqi, Kurdish, and international forces.
Abdullah Makki Muslih al-Rafiei, also known as Abu Khadija, was killed by a United States airstrike in Anbar province. He was chief of global operations and emir of a top ISIS committee.
'As the Emir of ISIS' most senior decision-making body, Abu Khadijah maintained responsibility for operations, logistics, and planning conducted by ISIS globally, and directs a significant portion of finance for the group's global organization,' the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.
Rafiei was a target for more than two years 'and in the past six months, the noose has tightened around this terrorist,' the Iraqi military's Joint Operations Command said in a statement.
Intelligence about him was gathered during operations in the Anbar desert, raids of ISIS hideouts across the country, and from a person close to Rafiei who was captured by the Kurdistan Region Security Council and handed over to Iraqi forces.
His location was determined and he was killed at 6:30 Friday evening in a 'successful airstrike in the Anbar desert,' the Joint Operations Command said.
Video released by CENTCOM shows the moment of the airstrike on a moving vehicle.
Iraqi and American forces moved into the site of the airstrike and found the bodies of Rafiei and a second ISIS member, both wearing unexploded suicide vests and in possession of weapons, according to CENTCOM.
Iraqi forces said they also arrested seven ISIS suspects, including two women, accused of providing Rafiei with supplies. Based on intelligence gathered at the scene, five other wanted individuals were arrested in Erbil.
Rafiei was identified by matching his DNA with a sample collected from an earlier raid when he had escaped, CENTCOM said.
The United States in 2023 named Rafiei a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Iraq's Joint Operations Command described him as 'one of the most important and dangerous terrorist elements in Iraq and the entire region.'
US President Donald Trump commented on the operation, saying on his Truth Social platform that Rafiei 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,' Trump said.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, when he first announced the operation on Friday, did not mention the Kurdish involvement, which drew the ire of the Kurdistan Region Security Council, who slammed Sudani and said their exclusion 'is not a good indication for the future of cooperation between the regional and federal institutions.'
Deputy commander of Iraq's Joint Operations Command Qais al-Muhammadawi did thank 'the heroes of the Kurdistan Region (Asayish)' for their contribution by handing over another ISIS member close to Rafiei.
Iraq's National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji also commended the operation, thanking the Kurdistan Region Security Council and the US-led coalition for their cooperation.
Erbil and Baghdad have coordinated many anti-ISIS operations in recent years.
ISIS seized control of swathes of territory in northern and central Iraq in 2014. Their so-called caliphate was brought to an end in 2017, but the group continues to pose a security threat particularly in the disputed territories that stretch across several provinces including Diyala, Salahaddin, Kirkuk, and Nineveh, as well as across the border in Syria.
On Sunday, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein issued a stark warning about the growing threat posed by ISIS, saying it poses an increasing danger to Iraq, Jordan, and Syria.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
2 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Iraq drew over $100 billion foreign investment in two years: PM
Also in Iraq US senator warns PMF bill grants Iran 'backdoor' into Iraq Iraq-Iran new security deal updates 2023 agreement: Security advisor Iraq's water crisis spurs calls to block Turkish companies Eighth batch of Yazidi remains from ISIS genocide laid to rest in Shingal A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani said Wednesday the country has attracted over $100 billion in foreign investments in two years, praising its 'safe and attractive' climate and calling for further investment. 'Iraq is now attracting substantial Arab and foreign investments across various sectors, exceeding $100 billion in the two years of the government's tenure,' Sudani said in a meeting of companies competing for the Baghdad International Airport development project. Since taking office, Sudani has led numerous trips abroad to secure investment in Iraq, with foreign missions increasingly calling for more investment in the country as it recovers from years of conflict and instability. The prime minister has also prioritized attracting investors through economic reforms, anti-corruption measures, and large-scale infrastructure and energy projects. 'We welcome all Arab and foreign companies to Iraq, and send a clear message that it is a safe and attractive investment environment,' Sudani said, asserting that Baghdad will support foreign companies seeking to do business in the country. Iraq and the Kurdistan Region are also actively working to diversify their economy by bolstering the lackluster private sector.
Shafaq News
8 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Mystery surrounds psychiatrist's death in Iraq
Shafaq News – Basra On Wednesday, dozens of citizens and activists gathered in Basra, calling for full transparency over the death of Iraqi psychiatrist Ban Ziyad and urging authorities not to close the case until the official forensic report is issued. 'Labeling this as suicide without clear, independent proof would be an injustice,' a protester stated to Shafaq News, emphasizing the need for an investigation free from political or other external influence. Ziyad, regarded as a promising young figure in psychiatry, had recently delivered a well-received lecture at a scientific conference. Her sudden death and the circumstances in which her body was found have fueled public concern amid conflicting accounts. Earlier, Basra Governor Asaad al-Eidani noted that a preliminary investigation by the provincial criminal police indicated the incident may have been a suicide, though further confirmation was still required. He also explained that investigators had reviewed laboratory results and recordings from the late doctor's office, with no evidence to date suggesting homicide, external pressure, or interference. Dismissing the circulating allegations involving Ziyad's brother as unsupported by current forensic findings, al-Eidani underscored that the final forensic report, expected on Sunday, will be decisive in determining the outcome of the investigation.
Shafaq News
8 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Security briefing: Security pact with Iran and abduction reported across Iraq
Shafaq News Below is a summary of key security and public safety incidents reported across Iraq on August 11, 2025. Iraq, Iran Sign Security Memorandum on Opposition Groups (Baghdad) A senior Iraqi security source revealed details of a newly signed security memorandum between Iraq and Iran, stating that the agreement addresses the presence of Iranian opposition groups in northern Iraq. Decomposed Body Found in Kirkuk Home (Kirkuk) A medical source reported the discovery of a man in his sixties found dead inside his home in the Al-Qadisiyah neighborhood, adding that the police responded to a call from residents before confirming the death. Integrity Commission Arrests Officials Over Embezzlement (Saladin) The Federal Integrity Commission arrested a senior official in the Saladin governor's office and three engineers for deliberately harming public funds and interests. Investigators pointed out that the assistant director of the monitoring and auditing department had issued a fake advance audit document worth more than 1.449 billion dinars ($3.58M). National Security Adviser's Staff Member Kidnapped (Baghdad) A security source reported the abduction of a National Security Advisory staff member under mysterious circumstances after leaving his home in Baghdad. His family stated that he was followed by two unidentified vehicles before being taken to an unknown location. Kirkuk Court Releases Two in US Flag Car Display Case (Kirkuk) A source told Shafaq News that Iraqi authorities released two young men detained for displaying US flags on their cars in Kirkuk. Boy's Body Recovered from Diyala River (Diyala) A security source reported that a 14-year-old boy suffering from epilepsy drowned after having a seizure and falling into the Diyala River. Civil defense teams recovered the body and opened an investigation.
