Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Tuesday confirmed the death of Jassim Al-Mazrouei, also known as Abu Abdul Qader, the top commander of Islamic State in Iraq. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) had announced Al-Mazrouei’s death late last week.
In a post on X, al-Sudani congratulated the Iraqi people on the elimination of the IS commander, referred to as the “Wali of Iraq,” along with eight other senior leaders of the group.
He emphasised that the operation, which took place in the Hamrin Mountains in northeastern Iraq, was a significant achievement, led by Iraq’s counter-terrorism and national security forces under the guidance of the Joint Operations Command (JOC).
The prime minister commended the security forces, reiterating that Iraq would not tolerate terrorism. He vowed to continue pursuing militants until they are eradicated from Iraq. The JOC acknowledged the support of the ‘Global Coalition’ forces, who provided technical assistance and intelligence for the operation.
Since the start of 2024, Iraq has ramped up its military efforts against IS. In an interview with Bloomberg, al-Sudani stated that Iraq no longer requires US military presence, asserting that Iraq has made significant progress since 2014. He highlighted that the country has shifted from conflict to stability.
In September, Iraq and the US issued a joint statement indicating that the American-led international mission in Iraq would conclude within 12 months. However, the Pentagon clarified that while the mission’s nature is changing, it will not result in a complete withdrawal of US troops.
The US originally invaded Iraq in 2003 without UN approval, citing the presence of weapons of mass destruction, a claim that was later disproven. The US military campaign dismantled Saddam Hussein’s government, plunging the country into chaos and enabling the rise of extremist groups like IS.
After IS expanded across Syria and Iraq in 2014, US forces returned to Iraq. Although coalition military operations ended in 2021, around 2,500 US troops remain in the country.
