The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organisation representing several Iran-aligned armed factions, has reportedly announced a purported $10 million bounty targeting US President Donald Trump, claiming the move is retaliation for the 2020 US drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. The reported announcement comes amid renewed tensions in the Middle East involving the United States, Iran and allied armed groups. There has been no indication that the reported statement has altered official US security policy, and the group does not have any legal authority to issue such a reward.
According to reports, the organisation said the funds had been collected through contributions from its members and supporters. In a statement attributed to the group, it accused Trump of celebrating the deaths of Soleimani and al-Muhandis, who were killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020. The strike, carried out during Trump's first presidential term, significantly escalated tensions between Washington and Tehran and triggered a series of retaliatory actions across the region.
The group also alleged that recent developments reflected continuing hostility between the United States and Iran, claiming Washington had violated a fragile ceasefire and contributed to renewed instability in the region. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which is associated with Iran-backed armed factions collectively referred to as the "Axis of Resistance", has previously claimed responsibility for attacks on US military facilities in Iraq and neighbouring countries during periods of heightened regional conflict.
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Separately, Kurdish security authorities reported that US-led coalition forces intercepted and destroyed multiple explosive-laden drones over Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region, on Wednesday night. Officials said eight drones were brought down over the city within a short period, preventing them from reaching their intended targets. The interceptions caused explosions and smoke near the US consulate, but authorities reported no casualties or significant damage. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the drone launches.
The reported drone activity marked the first such incident near the US consulate in Erbil since a ceasefire took effect in April. The Kurdistan region hosts US military personnel and several international energy companies and has frequently been targeted during periods of regional instability. Iraqi and Kurdish security agencies continue to investigate the source of the drones while monitoring the security situation around strategic installations.
The developments coincided with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's official visit to Washington, where he met President Donald Trump for discussions on bilateral relations and regional security. The reported bounty announcement and the attempted drone attacks underscore the continuing volatility in the region, where longstanding disputes between the United States, Iran and Iran-backed armed groups continue to influence the security environment despite periodic efforts to reduce tensions.
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