Iraqi security forces have successfully eliminated a high-ranking leader of the Islamic State (IS) group, who was responsible for coordinating foreign operations. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani confirmed the operation on social media, describing the leader, Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufayi, as one of the most dangerous terrorists both in Iraq and globally. The U.S. President also commented on the operation, stating that Rufayi’s “miserable life was terminated.”
Despite Iraq declaring the defeat of IS in 2017, the group has continued to operate through remaining cells that execute sporadic attacks against the Iraqi army and police. Rufayi, who had been sanctioned by the United States earlier in 2023, held a prominent leadership role as the governor of IS’s regions in Syria and Iraq and was implicated in overseeing the group’s foreign operations.
While exact details surrounding the timing of Rufayi’s death are still unclear, Sudani applauded the precision operation orchestrated by Iraqi intelligence in collaboration with the U.S.-led anti-jihadist coalition. U.S. President Trump further elaborated on the successful strike via his Truth Social platform, emphasizing the relentless pursuit by U.S. military forces in coordination with Iraqi and Kurdish authorities.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reinforced the accuracy of the operation by releasing a statement and apparent footage showcasing the strike, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of Rufayi and another ISIS member. According to CENTCOM, the individuals were found to be wearing unexploded suicide vests, and Rufayi was identified through a DNA match.
The background of the unfolding IS situation in Iraq remains complex. Last year, Iraqi forces announced the deaths of nine IS commanders, including the group’s governor of Iraq at that time. The jihadist group declared a “caliphate” in 2014 after seizing extensive territory in Iraq and Syria, infamous for its brutality and violence. Although the full territorial control of IS was dismantled with the support of international coalitions by late 2017, the group continues to maintain a presence, particularly in rural regions and the expansive deserts of Syria.
The current estimate suggests the presence of about 2,500 U.S. soldiers in Iraq, aiding local forces deemed capable of confronting jihadist threats. Recent announcements have indicated that the international coalition is slated to conclude its military mission in federal Iraq within the next year, with plans to withdraw from the Kurdistan region by September 2026, signaling significant shifts in military strategy and regional security dynamics.
