US Offers $5 Million Reward for Information on Islamic State Commander

The US has offered a $5 million reward for information about one of four commanders of the self-proclaimed Islamic State terrorist group IS who was killed in Iraq.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the US and Iraqi troops had conducted raids on four areas in western Iraq on August 29, resulting in the deaths of 14 terrorists, including four IS commanders. Among the four IS commanders were the leader of a terrorist group operating in Iraq, and a bomb maker for whom the US had offered a $5 million reward.

This campaign targets ISIL leadership, and is intended to disrupt and degrade ISIL’s ability to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against Iraqi civilians, U.S. citizens, allies, and partners throughout the region and beyond.

Four ISIS commanders were killed, including Ahmad Hamid Husayn Abd-al-Jalil al-Ithawi, who was responsible for all ISIS operations in Iraq; Abu Hammam, who was responsible for overseeing all operations in western Iraq; Abu-‘Ali al-Tunisi, who was responsible for overseeing technical development; and Shakir Abud Ahmad al-Issawi, who was responsible for overseeing military operations in western Iraq.

Abu Ali al-Tunisi, a bomb maker, provided training for IS members in making explosives, suicide vests, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). He also provided advanced training in weapons development and chemical weapons production.

The US military discovered a number of IS gunmen armed with grenades and wearing explosive belts during the raid.

Seven US soldiers were injured during the mission.