ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information on Akram Abbas al-Kabi, founder and leader of Harakat al-Nujaba, an Iran-aligned armed group in Iraq.
In a public notice, the US State Department described Harakat al-Nujaba as “an Iran-aligned terrorist militia group in Iraq,” adding that its members “have attacked U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq as well as U.S. military bases in Iraq and Syria, killing a U.S. contractor and wounding U.S. servicemembers.”
The announcement came as Iraqi and Kurdish leaders gathered in Baghdad to discuss the formation of a new federal cabinet, nearly six months after parliamentary elections. Washington is reportedly seeking to ensure that Tehran-affiliated politicians are excluded from positions in the incoming government.
“If you have information on al-Kabi, send it to us via our Tor tipline or text us on Signal. You could be eligible for relocation and a reward,” the notice said.
The move reflects continued US pressure on Baghdad to curb the influence of Iran-backed armed factions. American officials have repeatedly urged the Iraqi government to rein in groups operating within state-linked security structures, including the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).
“There has been much talk in recent days by the chargé d'affaires of the American embassy, spreading corruption and evil, and directly inciting the Zionist entity against the sacred weapons of the honorable Islamic Resistance in Iraq. Unfortunately, some whose worldly interests have blinded them have now become loyal to these criminals," Kabi said in a statement on Wednesday.
He added that handing over the weapons of the Iran-affiliated "resistance" is a "red line."