<p>The US has offered rewards amounting to USD 20 million for tips on whereabouts of four top leaders of the Islamic State, a day after the terror group claimed responsibility for its first attack on American soil.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Through its 'Rewards for Justice' programme, the State Department announced yesterday that it would pay up to USD 7 million for information on Abd al-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli, up to USD 5 million each for Abu Mohammed al-Adnani and Tarkhan Tayumurazovich Batirashvili and up to USD 3 million for Tariq Bin-al-Tahar Bin al Falih al-'Awni al-Harzi.<br /><br />According to the department, Qaduli is a senior ISIL official who originally joined al Qaeda's affiliate in Iraq, Adnani is an official ISIL spokesman, Batirashvili is a battlefield commander in northern Syria and Harzi is the group's leader for the border region between Syria and Turkey.<br /><br />"Qaduli is a senior Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) official who reintegrated himself into ISIL following his release from prison in early 2012 and travelled to Syria to work in a Syria-based ISIL network. Al-Qaduli joined al-Qaeda in 2004 under the command of now deceased al-Qaeda in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and served as his deputy and the AQI amir (leader) of Mosul, Ninawa Province, Iraq," the State Department said.<br /><br />On May 14, 2014, the US Department of the Treasury designated Qaduli as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.<br /><br />Describing Adnani, for whose information a reward of up to USD 5 million is being offered, the State Department states, "Adnani, born Taha Sobhi Falaha in Syria, is the official spokesman for and a senior leader of ISIL. Al-Adnani is ISIL's main conduit for the dissemination of official messages, including ISIL's declaration of the creation of an Islamic Caliphate."<br /><br />"Al-Adnani was one of the first foreign fighters to oppose Coalition Forces in Iraq before becoming ISIL's spokesman," it said.<br /><br />The US State Department designated al-Adnani on August 18, 2014, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.<br /><br />Batirashvili, information about whose whereabouts carries a reward of up to USD 5 million, pledged allegiance to ISIL and its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in mid-2013, the State Department said.<br /><br />Harzi, for whom a reward of up to USD 3 million is being offered, has been described as a high-profile ISIL member who works to raise funds, recruit and facilitate the travel of fighters for the terrorist organisation, it said.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the White House yesterday said a probe was underway and it was "too early" to link the Islamic State group to the attack in Texas targeting an event centre hosting a controversial cartoon contest concerning Prophet Mohammed. <br /></p>
<p>The US has offered rewards amounting to USD 20 million for tips on whereabouts of four top leaders of the Islamic State, a day after the terror group claimed responsibility for its first attack on American soil.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Through its 'Rewards for Justice' programme, the State Department announced yesterday that it would pay up to USD 7 million for information on Abd al-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli, up to USD 5 million each for Abu Mohammed al-Adnani and Tarkhan Tayumurazovich Batirashvili and up to USD 3 million for Tariq Bin-al-Tahar Bin al Falih al-'Awni al-Harzi.<br /><br />According to the department, Qaduli is a senior ISIL official who originally joined al Qaeda's affiliate in Iraq, Adnani is an official ISIL spokesman, Batirashvili is a battlefield commander in northern Syria and Harzi is the group's leader for the border region between Syria and Turkey.<br /><br />"Qaduli is a senior Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) official who reintegrated himself into ISIL following his release from prison in early 2012 and travelled to Syria to work in a Syria-based ISIL network. Al-Qaduli joined al-Qaeda in 2004 under the command of now deceased al-Qaeda in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and served as his deputy and the AQI amir (leader) of Mosul, Ninawa Province, Iraq," the State Department said.<br /><br />On May 14, 2014, the US Department of the Treasury designated Qaduli as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.<br /><br />Describing Adnani, for whose information a reward of up to USD 5 million is being offered, the State Department states, "Adnani, born Taha Sobhi Falaha in Syria, is the official spokesman for and a senior leader of ISIL. Al-Adnani is ISIL's main conduit for the dissemination of official messages, including ISIL's declaration of the creation of an Islamic Caliphate."<br /><br />"Al-Adnani was one of the first foreign fighters to oppose Coalition Forces in Iraq before becoming ISIL's spokesman," it said.<br /><br />The US State Department designated al-Adnani on August 18, 2014, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.<br /><br />Batirashvili, information about whose whereabouts carries a reward of up to USD 5 million, pledged allegiance to ISIL and its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in mid-2013, the State Department said.<br /><br />Harzi, for whom a reward of up to USD 3 million is being offered, has been described as a high-profile ISIL member who works to raise funds, recruit and facilitate the travel of fighters for the terrorist organisation, it said.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the White House yesterday said a probe was underway and it was "too early" to link the Islamic State group to the attack in Texas targeting an event centre hosting a controversial cartoon contest concerning Prophet Mohammed. <br /></p>