An airstrike carried out by the U.S. and Iraq has reportedly killed ISIS leader Abdellah Maki Muslih al-Rifai, according to U.S. Central Command. This news comes as an Afghan man named Abdullah Haji Zada has accepted a plea deal, admitting to acquiring firearms for an ISIS-backed terrorist attack on Election Day in November 2024. Zada pleaded guilty to receiving two AK-47-style rifles and ammunition, working with Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi to carry out the attack. The two were arrested in October 2024 in Oklahoma, with Zada described as a “juvenile co-conspirator.” They had liquidated their family’s assets, sent funds to ISIS, and resettled their family in Afghanistan leading up to the planned attack.
Former Attorney General Merrick Garland mentioned that the plot was foiled as the men attempted to buy rifles from an undercover FBI employee. Tawhedi, Zada’s brother-in-law, is facing charges of conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization and conspiring to receive a firearm to commit a felony. Zada, under the plea deal, faces potential deportation to Afghanistan after serving a prison term of up to 15 years. Tawhedi could face a maximum of 35 years in prison if convicted.
Former FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the importance of combating terrorism, stating that it remains a top priority for the FBI. The case highlights the ongoing threat of individuals supporting and planning attacks on U.S. soil for extremist groups like ISIS.
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