The United States Department of State has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the capture of Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji, also known as Abu Alaa al-Walai, the leader of the Iran-backed Iraqi armed group Kataeb Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS), which Washington designates as a terrorist organisation.
In a statement, US officials said the group 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.”
Authorities added that anyone with useful information “could be eligible for relocation and a reward,” as efforts intensify to track down al-Saraji.
Al-Saraji is also a member of Iraq’s Coordination Framework, the Shiite political alliance that currently holds a parliamentary majority, highlighting the complex overlap between armed groups and political power in the country.
Iran-backed militias have in recent times targeted key US interests, including the embassy in Baghdad, facilities at the city’s airport, and oil installations operated by foreign companies.
The latest move comes amid heightened tensions in the region following the war triggered after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, dragging Iraq back into instability after years of relative calm.
Earlier this month, Washington also announced a similar reward for the leader of Kataeb Hezbollah, another powerful Iraqi group accused of kidnapping US journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was later released after a week in captivity.
The US has also reportedly increased pressure on Iraq’s government to rein in pro-Tehran militias, including suspending cash shipments and freezing funding for security programmes.
