The head of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has been killed in a precision air strike by members of the Iraqi national intelligence service along with US-led coalition forces.

Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufay’i “was considered one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world”, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said on social media platform X.

“The Iraqis continue their impressive victories over the forces of darkness and terrorism,” he added.

The jihadist, sanctioned by the United States in 2023, was IS’s so-called governor of the group’s Syrian and Iraqi provinces, according to the Iraqi leader.

Rufay’i, also known as Abu Khadijah, was also “responsible for the foreign operations offices”, Mr Sudani said.

The US Central Command described Rufay’i as “the Emir of ISIS’ most senior decision-making body.”