US Announces USD12 Million Reward for Information on Two Hezbollah Officials

Washington, MINA – The State Department stressed that it has seen “continued activity on behalf of Hezbollah here inside the homeland” and offered a reward for information on two of its senior leaders, KUNA reported.

National Counterterrorism Center Director Nicholas Rasmussen cited the group’s international “use of terrorism,” efforts to “advance terrorism acts,” and focus on US interests as cause to brief the media Tuesday.

In June, two people were arrested in the US for activities they conducted on behalf of Hezbollah which serve as a reminder of “the group’s aspirations to potentially carry out attacks here in the homeland,” Rasmussen told reporters.

Although there is no credible threat against the US, Rasmussen noted the US will continue to work “aggressively” with its partners to disrupt “the threat the group poses.”

State Department Counterterrorism Coordinator Nathan Sales echoed that the group has created problems globally, outside of Lebanon, including an attack in Bulgaria, two separate plots Cyprus, and the development of large caches of weapons in Kuwait and Nigeria.

Therefore, a USD seven million reward is being offered for information that leads to the location, arrest or conviction of senior Hezbollah leader Talal Hamiyah.

He is credited with leading the group’s international unit and has been responsible for planning and conducting terrorist attacks outside of Lebanon.

There is also a separate USD five million reward for Fu’ad Shukr who is a senior military commander of Hezbollah’s forces in Lebanon.

He is a member of the group’s highest military body and played a key role in its operations in Syria.

These are the first Hezbollah-related rewards in a decade.

Finally, Sales highlighted that Iran “has built and bankrolled Hezbollah” “at the expense of the Iranian people,” and helped “foment instability throughout the region and across the world.” (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)