Head of Islamic State in Iraq eliminated – Baghdad

Abu Abdul Qader has been killed along with eight other senior IS leaders, according to the Iraqi prime minister

The top commander of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) in Iraq has been killed, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced on Tuesday.

The announcement confirms a statement on the killing of Jassim Al-Mazrouei, also known as Abu Abdul Qader, issued by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) late last week.

In a post on X, the prime minister wrote, “I congratulate our honorable people on the killing of the so-called (Wali of Iraq) in the terrorist organization IS, and (8) of the organization’s senior leaders…” 

Al-Sudani highlighted that the “exceptional operation” was carried out by the country’s counter terrorism and national security services under the supervision of the Joint Operations Command (JOC) in the Hamrin Mountains in northeastern Iraq.

The PM praised the security forces, stressing “There is no place for terrorists in Iraq. We will pursue them to their hideouts and eliminate them until the land of Iraq is cleansed of them and their heinous acts.”

The JOC said that the operation to eliminate the IS commanders was supported by technical assistance and intelligence from ‘Global Coalition’ forces.

Iraqi forces intensified their operations against IS in 2024. In an interview with Bloomberg last month, al-Sudani claimed that the Middle Eastern nation no longer needs US troops on its territory, because “Iraq in 2024 is not the same as Iraq in 2014” and added that “We have moved on from wars to stability.”

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US outlines Iraq ‘withdrawal’ plans

In September, Iraq and the US issued a joint statement saying Washington would conclude the American-led international mission in Iraq over the next 12 months. The Pentagon, however, later clarified that while the US mission is changing, it will not constitute a full withdrawal.

The US invaded Iraq in 2003 without UN sanction, claiming it possessed weapons of mass destruction – a claim later found to be false. The US ‘shock and awe’ bombing campaign devastated Iraq and toppled Saddam Hussein’s government, leaving the country in chaos and creating fertile ground for extremist groups such as IS.

Following the spread of IS across parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014, US troops returned to the country. Coalition military operations wrapped up in 2021, leaving approximately 2,500 American troops in place.