WASHINGTON, United States – The United States State Department announced on Thursday, April 23, 2026, that it is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of the leader of the Tehran-backed Iraqi armed group Kataeb Sayyid al-Shuhada. Okay News reports that United States officials said in a social media post that they were seeking information on the leader of the organization, Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji, who is also known as Abu Alaa al-Walai.
The United States government stated that the group has killed Iraqi civilians and attacked United States diplomatic facilities in Iraq, as well as attacking United States military bases and personnel in Iraq and Syria. The social media post noted that individuals providing information on the whereabouts of al-Saraji could be eligible for relocation and a financial reward.
Al-Saraji holds a position within the Coordination Framework, which is the ruling Shiite alliance that currently maintains the parliamentary majority in Iraq. Iran-backed groups have frequently targeted the United States embassy in Baghdad, as well as logistics facilities and oil fields operated by foreign companies.
Iraq has been affected by the broader conflict in the Middle East that began when the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, 2026. Earlier in April 2026, a similar reward was issued for the leader of Kataeb Hezbollah, an Iraqi armed group implicated in the abduction of United States journalist Shelly Kittleson.
Washington has increased pressure on the government of Baghdad to confront these pro-Tehran groups by suspending cash shipments and freezing funding for security programs in Iraq.
