U.S. airstrikes kill top ISIS leader in Iraq

In a series of targeted operations in Syria and Iraq over the past several weeks, U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, has significantly intensified its counterterrorism efforts against ISIS and affiliate groups. The operations resulted in the deaths or captures of several high-ranking terrorists, emphasizing the ongoing commitment of U.S. forces to combat terrorism in the region. One notable event occurred on March 13 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, where a precision airstrike killed Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, also known as Abu Khadijah, a high-ranking official within ISIS. His role as chief of operations and Delegated Committee Emir highlighted the importance of this operation as part of the broader efforts under the Defeat-ISIS campaign. Prior to this, CENTCOM forces had conducted similar airstrikes in Northwest Syria, achieving critical objectives like the death of senior leadership figures in affiliated groups, including Wasim Tahsin Bayraqdar and Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay. These actions, part of the ongoing campaign against ISIS, were facilitated by both U.S. forces and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), illustrating a cooperative effort to degrade ISIS networks significantly. Despite the shifting focus of U.S. military attention to other global hotspots, including Ukraine and China, CENTCOM’s unyielding resolve assures that the threats posed by ISIS and related groups are actively being addressed, preventing any potential resurgence of these terrorist organizations in the Middle East.