‘Terrorists wore unexploded suicide vests’: Video reveals US missile strike on ISIS chief Abu Khadijah
In a joint operation earlier this week, US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, in coordination with Iraqi Intelligence and Safety Forces killed high ISIS chief Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, also called “Abu Khadijah.”
The second-highest-ranking ISIS chief and the group’s chief of world operations was killed in a precision airstrike together with one other ISIS operative, as revealed by Centcom.
“On March 13, US Central Command forces, in cooperation with Iraqi Intelligence and Safety Forces, performed a precision airstrike in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, that killed the International ISIS #2 chief, Chief of International Operations and the Delegated Committee Emir – Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, alias “Abu Khadijah”, and one different ISIS operative,” mentioned the US central command
Following the airstrike, Centcom and Iraqi forces secured the positioning, the place they recognized Abu Khadijah by DNA matching from a earlier raid. “After the strike, CENTCOM and Iraqi forces moved to the strike web site and located each useless ISIS terrorists. Each terrorists have been carrying unexploded “suicide vests” and had a number of weapons,” additionally mentioned the US forces of their assertion.
Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, highlighted the importance of the operation, stating, “Abu Khadijah was one of the crucial essential ISIS members in your entire international ISIS group. We are going to proceed to kill terrorists and dismantle their organisations that threaten our homeland and US, allied, and companion personnel within the area and past.”
Earlier, President Donald Trump introduced the killingof the ISIS chief in Iraq by US together with Iraqi and Kurdish forces. “At the moment the fugitive chief of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters,” Trump mentioned in a submit on Fact Social. Additional, sharing credit score with Iraq and Kurdish forces, he added, “His depressing life was terminated, together with one other member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Authorities and the Kurdish Regional Authorities. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”
The strike marks a significant blow to ISIS management and is a part of ongoing U.S. efforts to fight the terrorist group.
Learn extra:‘Fugitive’ ISIS chief in Iraq ‘relentlessly hunted down’ and killed, says Trump
Who was ISIS ‘fugitive’ chief Abu Khadijah
Abu Khadijah held a key management place because the Emir of ISIS’ most senior decision-making physique, accountable for overseeing the group’s international operations, logistics, and monetary planning.
“Because the Emir of ISIS’ most senior decision-making physique, Abu Khadijah maintained duty for operations, logistics, and planning performed by ISIS globally, and directs a good portion of finance for the group’s international group,” mentioned the Centcom in its assertion.
Thought of one of many deadliest terrorists lively in Iraq and internationally, his important function in ISIS’s management hierarchy made him a outstanding determine, and his standing throughout the organisation had beforehand led to hypothesis about potential consideration to the place of ISIS’s international chief, generally known as the “caliph”.
