BAGHDAD:
Iraqi security forces have eliminated a high-ranking Islamic State (IS) leader responsible for coordinating “foreign operations,” Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced on Friday.
Despite Iraq declaring victory over the jihadist group in 2017, IS remnants have continued to operate, carrying out sporadic attacks against Iraqi military and police forces.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Sudani identified the slain IS leader as Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufayi, describing him as “one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world.”
Al-Rufayi, who was sanctioned by the United States in 2023, served as the so-called “governor” of IS-held territories in both Syria and Iraq, according to the Iraqi prime minister. He was also in charge of the group’s foreign operations division.
While Sudani did not specify the exact date of the operation, he praised the efforts of Iraqi intelligence and their collaboration with the U.S.-led international coalition against IS.
This development follows a similar success in October 2023, when Iraqi forces reportedly killed nine IS commanders, further weakening the group’s operational capabilities in the region.
The elimination of al-Rufayi marks a significant blow to IS’s leadership structure and underscores Iraq’s ongoing efforts to combat the remnants of the jihadist group. The U.S.-led coalition has played a crucial role in supporting Iraqi forces in their fight against IS, which once controlled large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria.
Despite these victories, IS cells remain active, posing a persistent threat to regional stability. The Iraqi government continues to prioritize counter-terrorism operations to prevent the group from regrouping and launching further attacks.
