U.S. Offers $10M for Iran-Based Al Qeada Financier

Al Qaeda financier Yasin al Suri, left, is one of the most wanted terrorists on the Justice Department's Rewards for Justice program, with a $10 million bounty on his head. A $25 million reward is offered for Al Qeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. (U.S. Justice Dept./Reuters)

WASHINGTON – The U.S. State Department offered a $10 million reward Thursday for information that helps authorities find Ezedin Abdel Aziz Khalil, better known as Yasin al Suri, an Iran-based senior financier of Al Qaeda.

Suri, operating under an agreement between Al Qaeda and the Iranian government since 2005, allegedly moves money and recruits through Iran and on to Pakistan and Afghanistan, the department said in its announcement.

He is an important fundraiser for the terrorist network and has collected money from donors throughout the Persian Gulf region, the department said.

Suri, born in Syria in 1982, also is accused of arranging the release of Al Qaeda personnel from Iranian prisons.

"When Al Qaeda operatives are released, the Iranian government transfers them to the custody of al-Suri, who then coordinates their travel to Pakistan," the State Department said.

The reward was posted under the federal government's "Rewards for Justice Program," which offers millions of dollars for information leading to the capture of some of America's most wanted terrorists.

The program's top wanted terrorist is Al Qeada leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, who's capture comes with the potential for a $25 million reward

Suri is one of three men in the $10 million reward category, the others being Taliban leader Mullah Omar and Abu Dua, leader of Al Qeada in Iraq.