“The threat that al-Baghdadi poses has increased significantly since the Department of State’s initial $10 million reward offer for information leading to his location, arrest, or conviction was announced in 2011,” reads the announcement published by the Department of State on Friday.
“Under al-Baghdadi, ISIL has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in the Middle East, including the brutal murder of numerous civilian hostages from Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.”
The US has designated Baghdadi a ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist.’
His current whereabouts are unknown but recent reports say he may be in the Mosul or west of Mosul area.
In late November, the global coalition announced that nearly all of Baghdadi’s deputies have been killed in targeted airstrikes and “it is a matter of time before Baghdadi meets the same fate,” said the office of the coalition spokesperson.
Earlier that month, an audio recording purportedly of the terrorist leader called on militants in Mosul to fight the incoming Iraqi army. “Do not retreat. This total war and the great jihad only increased our firm belief, God willing, and our conviction that this is all a prelude to victory.”
