The US State Department announced a reward of up to $10 million for information on Hashem Fanyan Rahim al-Saraji, also known as Abu Alaa al-Wala’i, the leader of the Tehran-backed Iraqi armed group, the Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades, which Washington designates as a terrorist organization.In a post on X on Friday, US officials said they were searching for information about Al-Sarji’s whereabouts. Those who provide information “may be eligible for transfer and reward,” the post said.
Washington said that the KSS “killed Iraqi civilians and attacked US diplomatic facilities in Iraq, as well as attacking US military bases and personnel in Iraq and Syria.”According to Agence France-Presse, Al-Sarji holds a seat in the Coordination Body, the ruling Shiite coalition that enjoys a parliamentary majority in Iraq.Iran-backed groups targeted the US Embassy in Baghdad, a diplomatic and logistics facility at Baghdad Airport, and oil fields operated by foreign companies.The development comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following the weeks-long conflict between the US, Iran and Israel, which began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, leading to retaliatory attacks on US bases in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Syria, in a move that was said to have “surprised” even the Trump administration.
The fragile ceasefire in the broader conflict was extended on Thursday.Earlier this month, the United States announced a similar reward for the leader of Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi armed group whose leader was accused of kidnapping American journalist Shelley Kittleson last month before releasing her a week later.According to US media reports this week, Washington also increased pressure on Baghdad to act against pro-Tehran groups by suspending cash shipments and freezing funding for security programs in Iraq.
