US State Department Offers Reward for Leader of Iran-Aligned Iraqi Militia Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada
Introduction
The United States Department of State has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji, also known as Abu Alaa al-Walai, the leader of the Iran-aligned Iraqi armed group Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS). The group has been designated by Washington as a terrorist organization.
Main Body
On April 23, the State Department''s Rewards for Justice program posted on social media that it was seeking information on al-Saraji. The post stated that individuals providing information could be eligible for relocation and a reward. US officials have stated that KSS members have killed Iraqi civilians and attacked US diplomatic facilities in Iraq, as well as US military bases and personnel in Iraq and Syria. Al-Saraji and KSS were previously designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists under Executive Order 13224 in November 2023. In September 2025, the State Department further designated KSS as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, a move that unlocked additional legal and financial tools, including the ability to offer higher rewards for its leadership. According to the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), KSS is an Iraqi militia supported by and ideologically aligned with Iran''s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and has fought in both Iraq and Syria. The group expanded its presence in Iraq after the Islamic State swept through the country in 2014 and currently operates as a member of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). The CEP detailed that KSS works closely with other pro-Iran PMF units and its commanders have met personally with Qasem Soleimani, the deceased commander of the IRGC''s Quds Force. Al-Walai has previously announced his support for the Houthi movement and has stated that KSS is a faction of that group. An analysis by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy indicated that since the US-Iran conflict commenced, Iraqi militia resistance groups, including KSS through its Saraya Awliya al-Dam brand, have been targeting Gulf states, particularly Kuwait, from launch points in southern Iraq. The analysis also noted that KSS, along with Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, have attacked the Kurdistan Region of Iraq with drones and rockets. The Washington Institute suggested the US should consider resurrecting the approach used in early 2024, when strikes targeting upper-level militia leaders in Baghdad stopped a sequence of attacks on US personnel. According to AFP, al-Saraji holds a seat in the Coordination Framework, the ruling Shiite alliance that has a parliamentary majority in Iraq. Iran-backed groups have targeted the US embassy in Baghdad, a diplomatic facility at Baghdad airport, and oil fields operated by foreign companies. The development occurs amid heightened tensions following a conflict that began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks on US bases. A fragile ceasefire was extended on Thursday. Earlier in April, the US announced a similar reward for the leader of Kataeb Hezbollah, who was accused of kidnapping US journalist Shelly Kittleson. According to US media reports, Washington has increased pressure on Baghdad by suspending cash shipments and freezing funding for security programs in Iraq.
Conclusion
The US State Department''s reward offer for the leader of Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada represents a continuation of efforts to counter Iran-aligned militias in Iraq. The situation remains dynamic, with ongoing tensions in the region and increased diplomatic and financial pressure on the Iraqi government to address the activities of pro-Tehran groups.