Ten Million Dollar Bounty: The US Hunt for the Leader of Kata’ib Hezbollah
The U.S. State Department has announced a reward of up to 10 million dollars for information leading to the capture of Ahmad al-Hamidawi, the leader of the Iran-backed terrorist group Kata’ib Hezbollah.
The United States Department of State has significantly increased the pressure on Iranian proxies in Iraq by offering a 10 million dollar bounty for information on Ahmad al-Hamidawi. Al-Hamidawi is the Secretary General of Kata’ib Hezbollah, a designated foreign terrorist organization that has spent years targeting American personnel and facilities. The Rewards for Justice program announced the bounty on Tuesday, citing al-Hamidawi’s central role in planning attacks against both U.S. and Iraqi security forces. This move is part of a broader American strategy to degrade the capabilities of groups that follow the direct instructions of Iran’s supreme leader and work to destabilize the region.
A Legacy of Violence and Terror
Kata’ib Hezbollah has a long and documented history of carrying out terrorist operations aimed at expelling coalition forces from Iraq and advancing Iranian interests. The group has repeatedly utilized improvised explosive devices, rockets, and unmanned aircraft systems to target diplomatic facilities and military personnel. Beyond military targets, the group has been responsible for the kidnapping of foreign nationals, including Israeli researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was held captive for two and a half years before her release last September. Most recently, the group was implicated in the kidnapping of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was freed last Tuesday following intense pressure from U.S. officials and the cooperation of Iraqi security services.
Ahmad al-Hamidawi himself was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2020. He received extensive military, political, and intelligence training from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and he continues to serve on the group's shura council. As the leader of this organization, he has not only planned direct attacks but has also incited mass violence and protests targeting the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. The 10 million dollar reward underscores the threat he poses to international stability. By freezing his assets and prohibiting any transactions with him or his organization, the U.S. aims to isolate the group and dismantle the network of Iranian support that allows them to function within Iraq.