Today, the U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice Program is increasing to $25 million its reward offer for information leading to the location, arrest, or conviction of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, also known as Ibrahim ‘Awwad Ibrahim ‘Ali al-Badri, also known as Abu Du’a. This represents a significant increase from the previous reward offer of $10 million announced in October 2011. The U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice program previously offered $10 million for information on Baghdadi, announced in October 2011.
– The US doesn't want Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to be another one that got away. The State Department has more than doubled its reward for information leading to the arrest of the ISIS leader, who is rumored to be in Mosul or in ISIS-held territory west of the Iraqi city, Reuters reports. The reward has gone from $10 million to $25 million for al-Baghdadi, who was labeled a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" in 2011, the State Department said in a press release. After the offensive to retake Mosul from the militant group began, al-Baghdadi released his first message in almost a year, telling followers that "holding your ground in honor is a thousand times better than retreating in disgrace."