Defense

State Dept. offers $3M reward for info on US-trained ISIS leader

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The State Department is offering up to a $3 million reward for information related to an Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) leader who underwent U.S. training before joining the terrorist group.

{mosads}Gulmurod Khalimov is described in a State Department press release as a top leader and recruiter for ISIS.

Before joining ISIS, he was the commander of a police special operations unit in the Ministry of Interior of Tajikistan. He received training from U.S. special operations forces, as well as elite Russian forces, according to multiple reports.

In late April 2015, he disappeared. The next month, a video surfaced online of him espousing ISIS views and threatening the United States, Russia and Tajikistan.

“Listen, you American pigs, I’ve been three times to America, and I saw how you train fighters to kill Muslims,” he said in the video. “God willing, I will come with this weapon to your cities, your homes, and we will kill you.”

The State Department designated Khalimov a specially designated global terrorist in September 2015, while the United Nations Security Council added him to its sanctions list in February, according to the press release.

Further, Interpol has issued its version of an arrest warrant for Khalimov, and he’s wanted by the government of Tajikistan, the release says.

The $3 million is being offered through the State Department’s Rewards for Justice Program for information leading to the location, arrest and/or conviction of Khalimov. The program was created in 1984 and has paid more $125 million to more than 80 people who provided actionable information on terrorists, according to the release.

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