The offer was issued under the U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice programme. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the department identified Wa’eli as the leader and Secretary-General of Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS).
“KSS members have killed Iraqi civilians and attacked U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq, as well as U.S. military bases and personnel in Iraq and Syria,” the department said.
It added: “If you have information on al-Saraji, send it to us via our Tor tipline or text us on Signal. You could be eligible for relocation and a reward.”
Help stop the violence and attacks against U.S. diplomatic facilities and innocent civilians in Iraq.
Send us your tip. pic.twitter.com/VeufJKfOyx
— Rewards for Justice (@RFJ_USA) April 23, 2026
Why is the US offering a $10 million reward for Abu Waala al Wa’eli?
The US government has announced the reward for information that could help locate and arrest Wa’eli. According to the Counter Extremism Project, the U.S. Department of State designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist on 17 November 2023.
Who is Abu Waala al Wa’eli?
Born on 1 July 1960 in Baghdad, Abu Waala al Wa’eli is an Iraqi militia leader currently serving as the head and Secretary-General of Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS), an Iran-aligned armed group operating in Iraq.
Abu Waala al Wa’eli’s alleged role and background
According to the Counter Extremism Project, Wa’eli was previously associated with Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH), a U.S.-designated Shia militia active in Iraq and Syria. His involvement with the group led to his detention in a US-run prison until his release in 2010.
During the early years of the Syrian civil war, factions emerging from KH went on to form KSS, with Wa’eli becoming part of the group. KSS later expanded its presence in Iraq following the rise of ISIS in 2014 and joined the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), where it operates as Brigade 14.
Abu Waala al Wa’eli’s links to extremist networks
As a senior figure in KSS, Wa’eli has maintained ties with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps–Quds Force (IRGC-QF) and has been in contact with key commanders, including the late Qasem Soleimani.
He also indicated support for Iran-aligned groups in the region, stating in 2018 that his fighters could be deployed to Yemen to support Houthi forces. Following Soleimani’s death in 2020, Wa’eli was among militia leaders who aligned with his successor, Ismail Ghaani.
In October 2023, after Israel launched a full-scale war in Gaza, KSS became part of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), a coalition of Iran-backed militias that carried out dozens of attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria. More than 100 such attacks had been carried out by January 2024.
What is the Rewards for Justice programme?
The Rewards for Justice programme is an initiative run by the US Department of State. It offers financial rewards for credible information on individuals involved in terrorism or posing threats to US interests.
