The U.S. Offers $12 Million Reward for Information on Two Hezbollah Members

Amid increasing U.S. pressure on Hezbollah, the U.S. State Department announced on Tuesday, October 10, that it has set millions of dollars in rewards for information leading to the arrest of two Hezbollah members. According to Reuters, the State Department has offered a $7 million reward for information that leads to the arrest of Talal Hamieh, the head of Hezbollah's external security organization. Additionally, a $5 million reward has been set for information about Fouad Shukr, one of Hezbollah's commanders. Nathan Sales, the U.S. State Department's Coordinator for Counterterrorism, stated at a press conference that this is the first time in a decade that rewards have been offered for members of Hezbollah. He emphasized that the Iranian government created and financially supports Hezbollah to promote instability throughout the region and the world, at the expense of the Iranian people. Sales noted that the reward announced today is another step to increase pressure on Hezbollah members and the group itself. Reuters reports that Talal Hamieh has been on the U.S. State Department's terrorist list since 2015, while Fouad Shukr has been listed since 2013. The U.S. State Department has classified Hezbollah as a terrorist organization since 1997. Nicholas Rasmussen, head of the U.S. Counterterrorism Center, has also accused Hezbollah of being involved in attacks worldwide and emphasized that the group is trying to gain the capability to carry out attacks on U.S. soil. Sales mentioned that after Donald Trump announces the overall U.S. strategy regarding Iran, Washington will ask other countries to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. He added that some countries have only listed Hezbollah's military wing as terrorist and have taken no action against what they call the political wing, which he described as a mistaken distinction. Sales asserted that designating Hezbollah as a terrorist group is not a symbolic act. Trump is expected to soon announce his strategy regarding Iran's 'bad behavior,' which may include designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.