$10 Million Reward Announced for Capture of Iraqi Militia Chief

14/04/2026

WASHINGTON, Apr 14: The United States Department of State has announced a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Iraqi militia leader Ahmad al-Hamidawi, secretary general of the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah group.

In a statement shared by the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program on X, the group was accused of being responsible for attacks on U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq, the kidnapping of U.S. citizens, and violence resulting in civilian deaths.

The announcement follows reports that Kataib Hezbollah briefly detained American journalist Shelly Kittleson in Baghdad last month before releasing her after several days, allegedly under conditions involving the Iraqi government and the release of detained militia members.