In a social media statement, U.S. officials said they were seeking information on Al-Saraji, also known as Abu Alaa Al-Walai, citing his leadership of the group, which Washington has designated as a terrorist organization.

Authorities said the group has carried out attacks against Iraqi civilians, U.S. diplomatic facilities, and American military personnel in Iraq and Syria.The department said individuals providing credible information could be eligible for relocation in addition to the financial reward, as part of efforts to disrupt the activities of Iran-aligned militias operating in the region.

Kataeb Sayyid Al-Shuhada has been linked to attacks targeting the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, facilities at the capital’s international airport, and oil infrastructure operated by foreign companies. The group operates within Iraq’s broader network of armed factions aligned with Tehran.

Al-Saraji is also reported to hold a position within Iraq’s Coordination Framework, a Shiite political alliance that commands a parliamentary majority, underscoring the overlap between armed groups and political structures in the country.

The move comes as Iraq faces renewed instability linked to the wider regional conflict that escalated following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, drawing in Tehran-backed factions across the Middle East.

Earlier this month, Washington announced a similar reward targeting a senior figure in Kataeb Hezbollah, another powerful Iran-aligned militia, following the temporary abduction of a U.S. journalist.

U.S. officials have also increased pressure on the Iraqi government to curb the influence of such groups, with reports indicating the suspension of certain financial transfers and security-related funding as part of broader policy measures.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said the attack occurred at dawn on the outskirts of Al-Jabur in the West Bekaa region. There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli military, which said it was not aware of the reported strike.

The incident comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah that began last week following an escalation of cross-border hostilities.Hezbollah said on Tuesday it had launched rockets and attack drones toward northern Israel, describing the action as a response to what it called repeated Israeli violations of the truce, including strikes on civilian areas and infrastructure.

The Israeli military said Hezbollah had fired multiple rockets at its forces in southern Lebanon and that it had targeted the launcher in retaliation.

Lebanese media also reported continued Israeli artillery shelling and demolition operations in southern areas where Israeli forces remain deployed.

Israel intensified its military campaign in Lebanon after Hezbollah entered the broader regional conflict in support of Iran in early March.

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has said Israeli forces would respond with “full force” to any perceived threats.Under the terms of the truce, Israel maintains that it reserves the right to act against attacks it deems imminent or ongoing.

A defense ministry official, cited by state news agency SANA, said the tunnel was located near the village of Hosh Al-Sayyid Ali, west of Homs, and had been used by what the statement described as “Lebanese militias.”

The military has since sealed the passage.The closure comes as Syrian and Lebanese authorities step up efforts to curb smuggling across their porous border, particularly in mountainous regions that have long facilitated illicit trade and movement of goods and fighters.

Eastern Lebanon, adjacent to the Syrian border, is a stronghold of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group currently engaged in hostilities with Israel.shifting regional dynamicsHezbollah had played a key role in supporting former Syrian president Bashar Assad during Syria’s civil conflict.

Following his overthrow in December 2024 by an Islamist coalition opposed to the group, key supply routes between Syria and Lebanon have been disrupted.

Authorities on both sides of the border have since moved to dismantle smuggling networks, reflecting broader shifts in regional alliances and security priorities.

No further details were provided on the scale of the tunnel or whether arrests were made in connection with its use.