Watch: Islamic State’s deputy leader killed in joint US-Iraqi operation

Abu Khadija was described as the militant group’s “deputy caliph” and “one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world.”

According to the US Central Command’s official statement, the strike took place on March 13 in Iraq’s Anbar province. Abu Khadija was the Emir of ISIS’s Delegated Committee, its most senior decision-making body, responsible for overseeing global operations, logistics, and financial networks. Another ISIS operative was also killed in the airstrike. Following the attack, US and Iraqi forces recovered both bodies and confirmed Abu Khadija’s identity through a DNA match from a prior raid.

CENTCOM Forces Kill ISIS Chief of Global Operations Who Also Served as ISIS #2

On March 13, U.S. Central Command forces, in cooperation with Iraqi Intelligence and Security Forces, conducted a precision airstrike in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, that killed the Global ISIS #2 leader,… pic.twitter.com/rWeEoUY7Lw

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 15, 2025

US and Iraqi leaders react

On his Truth Social platform, US President Donald Trump lauded the operation, stating, “Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters” in coordination with Iraqi and Kurdish regional forces. He concluded his statement with “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”

CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla pointed at the significance of the strike. “Abu Khadija 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 US, allied, and partner personnel in the region and beyond,” Kurilla said.

Growing concerns over ISIS resurgence

The operation coincided with a visit by Syria’s top diplomat to Iraq, where both nations reaffirmed their commitment to combating ISIS. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein highlighted the shared security concerns. “There are common challenges facing Syrian and Iraqi society, and especially the terrorists of IS,” he said. 

The development comes amid growing anxiety in Iraq regarding a potential ISIS resurgence, particularly following the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad in December. While Syria’s interim leadership—led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham—has targeted ISIS cells, security experts fear that instability in the region could allow the group to regroup.

(With inputs from AP)