Haydar Muzhir Ma’lak al-Sa’idi, also known as Haydar al-Gharawi.
US offers $10M reward for Iran-aligned leader in Iraq
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- US State Department offers up to $10 million for information on Haydar Muzhir Ma’lak al-Sa’idi, the leader of Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya (HAAA).
- Iraqi faction accused of deadly attacks on US targets in Iraq, Jordan, Syria.
- Bounty follows six-week US-'Israel'-Iran war, amid attacks on US assets.
- Second major reward in days after bounty on another Iraqi militia commander.
The United States announced on Monday a massive financial reward of up to $10 million for information regarding the leader of an Iran-aligned armed group in Iraq.
The faction recently gained notoriety for conducting deadly strikes against alleged American targets during the severe six-week conflict involving Washington, 'Israel', and Tehran.
The move signals a mounting US crackdown on regional proxy leaders, coming just days after Washington offered a similar bounty for the whereabouts of another prominent Iraqi commander.
Al-Sa’idi leads a militia that has attacked U.S. diplomatic facilities and killed Iraqi civilians and U.S. servicemembers.
— Rewards for Justice (@RFJ_USA) April 27, 2026
Help us stop this terrorist. Submit a tip. pic.twitter.com/mbRvCfe1gW
The Target: Haydar al-Gharawi and HAAA
The US Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program issued a formal statement offering the reward for information on Haydar Muzhir Ma’lak al-Sa’idi, also known as Haydar al-Gharawi.
The department identified him as the "leader and secretary-general of Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya (HAAA), an Iran-aligned terrorist group in Iraq."
According to the State Department, Sa’idi’s organization is responsible for a string of violent operations. The group "has attacked US diplomatic facilities in Iraq, as well as US military bases and personnel in Iraq, Jordan, and Syria, killing US service members." The government noted that informants providing actionable intelligence may be "eligible for relocation and a reward."
Both HAAA and Sa’idi have been officially designated on the State Department’s list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) since mid-2024 due to their active roles within the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI).
The Broader 'Axis of Resistance' Campaign
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) operates as an umbrella entity that emerged shortly after the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.
It brings together several highly influential, Iran-aligned Iraqi armed factions -including Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, Kata’ib Hezbollah, and Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba- that frequently execute operations through shadow groups.
The region saw a massive spike in hostilities starting February 28, when the US and 'Israel' launched a widescale, six-week aerial campaign targeting more than 17,000 sites across Iran.
In retaliation, Tehran unleashed drone and missile strikes across the Middle East, striking alleged US assets -particularly those located in Gulf Arab states- while also launching retaliatory attacks directly against 'Israel'.
This Iranian response actively incorporated Iraqi armed groups aligned with the "Axis of Resistance." Operating under the (IRI) banner, these factions claimed responsibility for numerous attacks on alleged US targets, including installations in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
By early April, the IRI claimed it had carried out 753 attacks against US targets during the initial six weeks of the war, a figure that has reportedly risen since.
A Pattern of Bounties
The $10 million reward for Sa’idi is part of a rapidly expanding US dragnet. Just days prior, on Friday, the State Department announced a similar multi-million dollar offer for information on Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji, widely known as Abu Ala al-Wala’i.
Read more: US offers $10m reward for Iraq-based Iran-linked militia leader
Al-Wala'i serves as the leader and secretary-general of Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, another prominent IRI faction. US authorities cited his group’s direct involvement in the killing of Iraqi civilians, as well as coordinated attacks on American diplomatic facilities and military personnel across Iraq and Syria.
