U.S. Offers $10 Million Reward for Information on Iraqi Militia Leader Akram al-Kaabi
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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of State announced Monday a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the location of Akram al-Kaabi, the Secretary-General of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, an Iraqi militia group designated as a terrorist organization.
The announcement, released through the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program, identifies al-Kaabi as a senior figure within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition of Iraqi Shia militias. The department stated the reward is intended to solicit information regarding al-Kaabi’s current whereabouts and activities.
Al-Kaabi leads Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, a faction that has been designated by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The group is also linked to the broader Islamic Resistance in Iraq network. U.S. officials have previously cited the group’s involvement in attacks against American diplomatic and military personnel in the region.
The reward offer underscores ongoing U.S. efforts to target leadership structures within Iran-aligned militias operating in Iraq. The State Department noted that al-Kaabi has been designated for his role in planning and executing attacks that threaten U.S. national security interests. The announcement did not specify the exact nature of the intelligence sought, other than information leading to his location.
Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba has historically operated in Iraq and has maintained ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The group has been implicated in various incidents targeting U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. Previous U.S. designations have highlighted the group’s role in facilitating cross-border attacks and providing logistical support to other militant factions.
The $10 million reward is the highest amount offered for information on an individual associated with the group to date. The State Department’s Rewards for Justice program has previously offered significant bounties for information on other militia leaders in the region, including figures from Kata’ib Hezbollah and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq.
Iraqi authorities have not immediately commented on the announcement. The Popular Mobilization Forces, which operates under the umbrella of the Iraqi government, has faced scrutiny over its ties to foreign actors and its role in regional conflicts. The Iraqi government has previously stated its commitment to maintaining sovereignty and preventing foreign interference in its internal security matters.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria continuing to face threats from various militia groups. The State Department emphasized that the reward is part of a broader strategy to disrupt the operational capabilities of designated terrorist organizations.
Questions remain regarding the current operational status of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba and the extent of its activities in Iraq. The U.S. has not specified whether al-Kaabi is currently at large or operating under an alias. The reward program remains open to information from any source, including Iraqi citizens and foreign nationals.
The State Department did not provide details on how the reward would be distributed or the specific criteria for verifying information. The announcement serves as a public call for assistance in locating al-Kaabi, who remains a key figure in the regional militant landscape.