The United States has raised the reward for information leading to the capture or location of Saad bin Atif al-Awlaki, a senior leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), to $10 million, the State Department announced. The move is part of the U.S. government’s ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks threatening American interests and global security.
Al-Awlaki, also known as Saad Mohammed Atif, has long been on Washington’s radar. He is accused of playing a central role in planning and executing terrorist attacks targeting U.S. personnel and assets, as well as involvement in the kidnapping of U.S. and Western nationals in Yemen. The State Department emphasized that al-Awlaki’s capture would significantly weaken AQAP’s operational capability.
He was designated a global terrorist by the U.S. in 2016, and is believed to be active in Shabwah Governorate, a known hotspot for militant activity. Officials say al-Awlaki has used his position to publicly call for attacks on Americans, urging jihadists to target the U.S. homeland.
The reward is being offered under the “Rewards for Justice” program, which has successfully helped in locating multiple high-profile terrorists over the past two decades.
