The U.S. State Department has announced a $10 million reward for information leading to the capture of Ahmad al-Hamidawi, the head of an Iran-backed militia in Iraq, citing his group’s involvement in attacks and kidnappings.
The bounty targets al-Hamidawi, who serves as secretary-general of Kataeb Hezbollah, a militia aligned with Iran and active in Iraq.
In a post on X that included al-Hamidawi’s photo, the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program stated that the organization is “responsible for attacks on US diplomatic facilities in Iraq, the kidnapping of US citizens, and the killing of innocent Iraqi civilians.”
The announcement comes after a series of incidents linked to the group. Just last month, Kataeb Hezbollah abducted American journalist Shelly Kittleson in Baghdad, holding her for several days before releasing her on the condition that she leave the country.
At the time, officials associated with the militia told The Associated Press that the release was tied to an understanding under which the Iraqi government would free several detained members of the group.
Kataeb Hezbollah has also been connected to the kidnapping of Israeli citizen Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was released last year after spending two and a half years in captivity.
The reward underscores Washington’s continued efforts to counter Iran-backed militias operating in Iraq, particularly those accused of targeting American personnel and interests in the region.
