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The United States Department of State has announced a reward of up to $10 million for credible information leading to the location or identification of a key figure in an Iran-aligned Iraqi armed group.
In a statement shared via social media on Thursday, US authorities said they are seeking details on Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji, also known as Abu Alaa al-Walai, the leader of Kataeb Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS), which Washington has designated as a terrorist organisation.
According to US officials, the group has been involved in deadly operations targeting civilians and American interests in the region. It has “killed Iraqi civilians and attacked U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq, as well as attacking U.S. military bases and personnel in Iraq and Syria,” Washington said.
The announcement further indicated incentives for potential informants, stating that “you could be eligible for relocation and a reward” for information on al-Saraji’s whereabouts.
Al-Saraji is also reported to be part of Iraq’s influential Coordination Framework, a Shiite political bloc that currently holds parliamentary dominance.
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In recent years, Iran-backed militias have repeatedly launched attacks on US-linked sites in Iraq, including the American embassy in Baghdad, facilities at the city’s international airport, and oil installations run by foreign firms.
The country, which had been gradually stabilising after years of conflict, has again been drawn into regional tensions following the escalation triggered by the February 28 strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran.
Earlier this month, US authorities also placed a similar bounty on the leader of Kataeb Hezbollah, another powerful militia accused of abducting American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was held for a week before being released.
Meanwhile, reports from US media suggest that Washington has intensified pressure on the Iraqi government, including suspending cash transfers and halting funding for certain security programmes, in a bid to curb the activities of pro-Tehran armed groups.
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