US Increases $10M Reward for Yemen Al-Qaeda Leader

The U.S. Department of State has increased its reward offer to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of Sa'ad bin Atef al-Awlaki, the current leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), under the Rewards for Justice program. Al-Awlaki assumed leadership in 2024 and has publicly called for attacks against the United States and its allies, orchestrated kidnappings of American citizens, and led militant operations in Yemen's Shabwah province. The State Department is also offering rewards of $5 million and $4 million for information on senior AQAP figures Ibrahim al-Banna and Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al-Qosi, respectively. AQAP, designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization, has intensified its activities amid Yemen's civil conflict, including attacks on the Yemeni government and confrontations with the Iran-backed Houthis. The increased bounty underscores the U.S. commitment to dismantling AQAP's network and protecting American interests, with information submissions allowed through secure platforms. U.S. officials emphasize the priority of weakening AQAP's leadership to disrupt its operational capabilities.