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The United States has carried out an airstrike in Iraq, killing ISIS’s second-in-command.

In an announcement, CENTCOM confirmed that a precision airstrike in Iraq’s Al Anbar province successfully killed Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, also known as Abu Khadijah, ISIS’s second-in-command and a key figure in the terrorist organization’s global operations. The strike, conducted on March 13 in coordination with Iraqi Intelligence and Security Forces, also killed another unnamed ISIS operative. Khadijah was the head of ISIS’s most senior decision-making body and was responsible for overseeing the group’s logistics, operations, and financing on a global scale.

Following the strike, US and Iraqi forces moved to the site to recover the bodies of both terrorists. Upon arrival, they found Khadijah and the second ISIS member wearing unexploded suicide vests and carrying multiple weapons. The presence of suicide vests suggested that the ISIS leaders were prepared to detonate if confronted on the ground.

To confirm Khadijah’s identity, US officials conducted DNA testing using samples collected during a previous raid in which he had narrowly escaped. In addition to killing Khadijah, Iraqi security forces also arrested Umm Hussein, the wife of Khadija. She was arrested minutes after the strike that killed Khadijah.

Trump reacts: In a statement, President Donald Trump said, “Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters. His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”

Iraq reacts: In a brief statement, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said, “The Iraqis continue their remarkable victories against the forces of darkness and terrorism. The heroes of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service, with support and coordination from the Joint Operations Command and the International Coalition forces, successfully eliminated the terrorist Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufay’i, known as (Abu Khadija). He held the so-called position of (Deputy Caliph), in addition to serving as the so-called Wali of Iraq and Syria, head of the Authorized Committee, and overseer of external operations offices. He was considered one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world. We congratulate Iraq, the Iraqi people, and all peace-loving nations on this significant security achievement.”