Iraq-Based Militant Group Offers $10 Million for Assassination of President Trump

BAGHDAD, July 17 (AP) — The Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced Thursday a $10 million financial reward for the assassination of U.S. President Donald Trump, citing retaliation for his administration's role in the killing of two senior commanders.

The group issued the declaration from within Iraq on Wednesday night local time, marking an escalation in rhetoric directed at the American leadership. The statement explicitly linked the offer to the 2019 drone strike that killed Major General Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis near Baghdad International Airport.

"This bounty is a direct response to the execution of our commanders," read a portion of the group's public announcement. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization comprising various Iran-backed militias operating within Iraqi borders, has frequently targeted U.S. diplomatic and military personnel since 2019. However, this marks the first time the coalition has publicly placed a specific monetary bounty on a sitting or former American president.

The announcement comes as tensions between Baghdad-based factions and Washington remain high following years of intermittent conflict in the region. The killing of Soleimani, commander of Iran's Quds Force, and al-Muhandis, head of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, was ordered by President Trump at the time under authorization to protect American interests.

U.S. officials have not immediately commented on the specific bounty announcement. However, security protocols for former presidents remain stringent regardless of public threats from foreign entities. The Department of Homeland Security maintains that all credible threats are assessed and managed through established intelligence channels.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has previously claimed responsibility for rocket attacks against U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria, though it denies involvement in any plot to assassinate American leaders on soil outside the conflict zone. Analysts note that such declarations often serve as political signaling rather than immediate operational plans, yet they underscore the enduring hostility between the group and the United States.

Questions remain regarding how the bounty would be executed or verified by the organization's leadership. It is unclear whether the offer applies to attempts made within Iraq, on U.S. soil, or during international travel. Additionally, no specific timeline for action was provided in the initial statement.

Security experts warn that while such threats are common in asymmetric warfare, they require constant vigilance from intelligence agencies monitoring the group's capabilities and networks. The announcement has drawn immediate attention from regional diplomats concerned about further destabilization of security arrangements between Iraq and its neighbors.

As of Thursday morning, no arrests or specific plots linked to this bounty have been reported by Iraqi authorities or international partners.