The US has placed a $10 million bounty on the leader of a pro-Iranian organization in Iraq, which is responsible for dozens of kidnappings of American citizens

The State Department announced a reward of $10 million for information leading to the location of Ahmad al-Hamidawi, head of the pro-Iranian organization Kataeb Hezbollah, which Washington accuses of attacks on American facilities, kidnappings of citizens, and killings of civilians in Iraq.

The US State Department announced a $10 million bounty for Ahmad al-Hamidawi, secretary-general of the pro-Iranian militia Kataeb Hezbollah, increasing pressure on organizations linked to Tehran and operating in Iraq.

In a post on the platform X, which also included a photo of al-Hamidawi, the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program stated that the organization is “responsible for attacks on US diplomatic facilities in Iraq, for the kidnapping of American citizens, and for the killing of innocent Iraqi civilians.”

According to US authorities, Kataeb Hezbollah is one of the most significant pro-Iranian armed groups operating in Iraq and has repeatedly been accused of attacks against American targets.

Kidnapping of an American journalist in Baghdad

Last month, the organization abducted American journalist Shelly Kittleson in Baghdad, who was released a few days later on the condition that she leave the country. Officials from the group had told the Associated Press at the time that, in exchange, the Iraqi government would release several members of the militia who had been previously detained.

Kataeb Hezbollah is also believed to be responsible for the abduction of Israeli researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was released last year after two and a half years in captivity.

At the same time, a related report notes that a member of the organization was killed in a US airstrike in Babil province, southwest of Baghdad, on March 5, 2026.

The announcement of the bounty is part of Washington’s effort to curb the activity of armed groups backed by Iran and operating in the region.