Iran-Backed Group Offers $10 Million Bounty for Trump's Assassination

Escalating Tensions in the Middle East

A coalition of Iran-supported armed groups in Iraq has reportedly declared a $10 million bounty for the assassination of US President Donald Trump. This announcement heightens the already tense military situation between the US and Iran in the Middle East. The information was shared by an Iran-affiliated news outlet, which indicated that the funds were raised through contributions from supporters of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. However, this claim has not been independently verified, and there has been no immediate reaction from US officials.

The group stated that the bounty is a direct response to Trump's involvement in the January 2020 drone strike that resulted in the death of Major General Qasem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Quds Force, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF). They accused Trump of celebrating these killings and committing crimes against the resistance movement in the region.

Linking the Bounty to Soleimani's Death

In their statement, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq emphasized that the reward is open to anyone who successfully carries out the assassination of Trump, including individuals, organizations, or institutions. They claimed that Trump's actions have led to his "eternal disgrace" while honoring Soleimani and al-Muhandis as "victory commanders." The group asserted that the "free people of the world" would continue to seek justice for the killings, accusing the US of undermining regional stability through its military interventions. They also connected this announcement to the ongoing US-Iran conflict, alleging that the US has repeatedly violated ceasefire agreements established earlier this year.

Increasing Regional Hostilities

This bounty announcement coincides with escalating confrontations between the US and Iran across various fronts, including the Strait of Hormuz, Iraq, and other nations hosting American military bases. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, part of a larger Axis of Resistance, has previously taken responsibility for assaults on US military installations and coalition sites in Iraq and Syria.

In a separate incident, Kurdish security forces reported that US-led coalition air defense systems intercepted eight explosive drones over Erbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. The drones were neutralized between 8:53 PM and 9:20 PM local time, with no reported casualties. The interceptions caused explosions and smoke near the US Consulate in Erbil, which has been a target of rocket and drone attacks during previous escalations.

These events occurred during Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's visit to Washington, where he met with President Trump, amidst renewed military exchanges between US forces and Iran. The Kurdistan region, which hosts American troops and various international energy companies, has frequently been a target during confrontations involving Iran-backed militias. While the reported bounty signifies a notable increase in hostile rhetoric, there is currently no independent verification of the statement beyond Iranian state-affiliated sources, and US officials have yet to publicly address the threat.