Kata'ib Hezbollah leader appears after US bounty

Days after the U.S. Department of Justice announced a $10 million bounty for information leading to his capture, Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, leader of the Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kata'ib Hezbollah, made a public appearance at a "victory rally" in Karbala, southern Iraq. The militia leader covered his face with a keffiyeh, a COVID mask, and sunglasses during the event, which was captured in social media footage. The appearance represents a direct challenge to U.S. efforts to target leaders of Iranian proxy groups in the region. Kata'ib Hezbollah has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and has conducted numerous attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq.