The U.S. Department of State has raised its reward offer to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of Sa’ad bin Atef al-Awlaki, the current leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), as part of its Rewards for Justice program.

Al-Awlaki, who assumed leadership of AQAP in 2024, has publicly called for attacks against the United States and its allies. 

He is also accused of orchestrating kidnappings of American citizens and leading militant operations in Yemen’s Shabwah province during his previous role as an AQAP emir.

The State Department emphasized that the increased reward reflects the heightened threat posed by al-Awlaki’s leadership and aims to disrupt AQAP’s operational capabilities. 

Additional rewards of $5 million and $4 million are also being offered for information on senior AQAP figures Ibrahim al-Banna and Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al-Qosi, respectively.

Information can be submitted confidentially via secure messaging platforms such as Signal, Telegram, or WhatsApp, or through a Tor-based tipline maintained by the Rewards for Justice program.

This move comes amid growing concerns over AQAP’s resurgence and its potential coordination with other armed groups in Yemen. U.S. officials reaffirmed their commitment to counterterrorism efforts and the protection of American citizens worldwide.