U.S. Offers $10M Reward for Iraqi Militant Leader

On Thursday, the U.S. State Department offered a $10 million reward for information regarding Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji, known as Abu Alaa al-Walai, the leader of the Iraqi armed group Kataeb Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS).

This group is recognized as a terrorist organization by Washington. Al-Saraji is implicated in the killing of Iraqi civilians and attacks on U.S. diplomatic facilities and military bases in Iraq and Syria.

The announcement highlights the U.S. government's efforts to combat pro-Iranian groups that threaten its interests in the region. Al-Saraji plays a significant role within the Shiite alliance that holds a parliamentary majority and is backed by Iran.

The U.S. has previously offered similar rewards, including one for the leader of Kataeb Hezbollah, another Iranian-backed group involved in the kidnapping of a U.S. journalist. The U.S. media reports indicate ongoing pressure on Baghdad to address the activities of these groups, including freezing funds and security programs related to Iraq.