The militant known as Abu Khadijah was one of the most important members in the Islamic State’s global organization, according to Centcom.

The killing comes as the group has been reconstituting in Syria, carrying out more attacks than at any time since it lost control of its territory nearly six years ago.

Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifa was head of IS's most senior decision-making body, the US Central Command said.

Islamic State leader Abu Khadija held the position of the so-called governor of Iraq and Syria and was also the head of its foreign operations offices.

Iraq's prime minister has described Abu Khadija as "one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world". On Thursday, an airstrike targeted his vehicle and US forces said they had confirmed his death using DNA tests.

Iraq's Prime Minister and US President Donald Trump have applauded the death of Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufayi, who was said to have been responsible for Islamic State's "foreign operations".

A senior Islamic State (IS) leader, Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifa, also known as Abu Khadija, has been killed in a joint operation by Iraqi national intelligence forces and the US-led coalition, Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has announced.

The leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed in a joint operation by US and Iraqi forces, Iraq’s Prime Minister announced on Friday. US President Donald Trump took the credit of the elimination, saying the terrorist was “relentlessly hunted down” and eliminated.

The leader of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has been killed, Iraq's prime minister said on Friday, describing him as "one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world."

President Donald Trump hailed the death of ISIS chief Abdallah Maki Mosleh al Rifai on Friday. Iraqi security forces, along with U.S.-led coalition forces, killed ISIS leader “Abu Khadija” in an airstrike.