An Iran‑backed militia umbrella group known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) has announced a $10 million bounty for anyone who assassinates US President Donald Trump, calling it retaliation for the January 2020 US drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al‑Muhandis.
In a statement dated 16 July, the group said the reward would be given to “whoever kills the criminal Trump, or whoever eliminates him personally, directs others to do so, or facilitates it as an individual, group, organisation or institution.”
The militia claimed the announcement followed Trump’s “boasting” about his role in the killings of Soleimani and al‑Muhandis. It added that the money had been raised through donations from members and supporters, according to Iranian state outlet Press TV.
The bounty announcement came after Trump referred to the 2020 drone strike during a White House meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al‑Zaidi.
According to Arab daily Asharq Al‑Awsat, Trump defended the operation, saying: “I killed him in my first administration. Had I not, it might be a different story today… I actually think the leaders of Iran were afraid of Soleimani.”
Without naming al‑Muhandis, Trump added: “By the way, a very bad person went with him. They happened to meet at the airport, and a very bad person from Iraq, a leader there, was killed in the same incident.”
Al‑Zaidi responded, “At that time, I wasn’t working in politics.”
On the other hand, the family of al-Muhandis criticised the Iraqi prime minister’s response to Trump’s remarks, saying the comments “clearly show his fear.
