ISIS' chief of global operations killed in precision airstrike in Iraq: CENTCOM
A U.S. airstrike in western Iraq on Thursday killed ISIS' chief of global operations, who also served as the terror group's second in command, U.S. officials confirmed.
The ISIS chief, Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, also known as "Abu Khadijah," was killed in the strike along with another operative from the group, officials said.
U.S. Central Command forces, in cooperation with Iraqi Intelligence and Security Forces, conducted a precision airstrike in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, according to a statement from CENTCOM.
"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," officials said.
After the strike, CENTCOM and Iraqi forces moved to the strike site and found the two dead bodies, both of whom were wearing unexploded "suicide vests" and had multiple weapons, CENTCOM said.
CENTCOM and Iraqi forces were able to identify Abu Khadijah through a DNA match from evidence collected on a previous raid where the terrorist narrowly escaped, officials confirmed.
"Abu Khadijah was one of the most important ISIS members in the entire global ISIS organization. We will continue to kill terrorists and dismantle their organizations that threaten our homeland and U.S., allied and partner personnel in the region and beyond," said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla of U.S. Central Command.
