10 Million Dollar Reward for Information on Al-Qaeda Leader in Yemen

In a decisive step in its ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, the United States of America announced yesterday, Tuesday, raising the financial reward to 10 million dollars for anyone providing information leading to the capture of Sa'd bin 'Atif al-Awlaki, the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, currently based in Yemen.

The U.S. State Department's "Rewards for Justice" program stated in an official statement:

"If you have information on the terrorist Sa'd bin 'Atif al-Awlaki, you may be eligible for a reward of up to 10 million dollars, in addition to relocation to a safe place."

Al-Awlaki, also known as Sa'd Muhammad 'Atif, is one of the prominent leaders of the organization, having led operations targeting American interests, including direct attacks and kidnappings of American and Western citizens in Yemen.

He has also been accused of inciting attacks against the United States and its allies, exploiting his position as the emir of the organization in Yemen, specifically in the southeastern Shabwa Governorate.

Washington had offered a reward of 6 million dollars in November 2022 for information leading to his capture.

However, U.S. authorities have now increased this amount to 10 million dollars in an attempt to enhance the chances of locating him.

According to intelligence information, al-Awlaki took over the leadership of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in March 2024, following the death of the previous leader Khalid Batarfi, who died of a malignant disease, as announced by the organization at that time.

Al-Awlaki's threat level has escalated recently, especially after appearing in a video in June last year where he threatened U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, as well as businessman Elon Musk.

His statement also included threats against leaders in Egypt, Jordan, and Gulf Arab countries, in the context of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

This U.S. move is part of a series of ongoing attempts to eliminate the security threats posed by Al-Qaeda in the region, especially amidst the continuing security and political unrest in Yemen, which terrorist groups exploit to strengthen their presence.