As part of an effort to disrup­t the “financ­ial mechan­isms” of the Lebane­se-based milita­nt groupWASHINGTON: The United States on Friday offered up to $10 million for information on Sheikh Mohammad al-Kawtharani, a senior military commander of the militant group Hezbollah in Iraq who was an associate of the late Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. The State Department said it was offering the sum for information on Kawtharani’s activities, networks and associates as part of an effort to disrupt the “financial mechanisms” of the Lebanese-based Hezbollah. Kawtharani was branded a global terrorist by the United States in 2013, accused of funding armed groups in Iraq and helping transport Iraqi fighters to Syria to join President Bashar al-Assad’s effort to put down a revolt against his rule. “Kawtharani has connections with the militia groups,” the Shi’ite leader said. “He was trusted by Soleimani, who used to depend and call on him to help him in crises and in meetings in Baghdad.”Read full story

Source: The Express Tribune April 11, 2020 01:30 UTC