For years, the remnants of ISIS have lurked in the shadows, but Iraq just sent a clear message: no hiding place is safe.
In a high-stakes operation, Iraqi intelligence forces, working with the U.S.-led coalition, took out Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai.
Better known as Abu Khadija, he was the group’s deputy caliph and one of the world’s most dangerous terrorists.
“The Iraqis continue their impressive victories over the forces of darkness and terrorism,” Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani declared.
According to officials, an airstrike in Iraq’s Anbar province sealed his fate, though details remain classified.
The timing is significant—coming on the same day that Syria’s top diplomat visited Baghdad to strengthen cooperation against ISIS.
Regional Stability Is In Flux
With Assad’s regime gone and Syria’s new leadership cracking down on terror cells, regional stability is in flux.
Iraq is at a crossroads. The U.S. plans to wind down its military mission by late 2025, but concerns are growing about a potential ISIS resurgence.
Is the terror group truly defeated, or just waiting for its next opportunity?
One thing is clear—leaders in Iraq and Syria are scrambling to ensure that ISIS doesn’t rise from the ashes once again.
