U.S. puts $5 million bounty on Somali-born ISIS figure Khadra Issa
-
Staff Reporter GAROWE ONLINE
- Posted On 16-09-2026, 06:51AM
WASHINGTON — The United States has renewed a $5 million reward for information leading to the location or capture of Khadra Issa, also known as Umm Qaqa al-Somali, whom Washington describes as a senior ISIS religious instructor.
The State Department’s Rewards for Justice programme said Issa, who was born in Somalia and is a Dutch citizen, travelled to Syria in 2014 to join ISIS.
According to the U.S. government, she received training in the use of weapons and explosives, as well as suicide operations. Washington said she has consistently supported violence and encouraged other ISIS members to carry out attacks in different countries.
The State Department also accused Issa of promoting ISIS's extremist ideology, including its justification for suicide attacks and the killing of civilians. She was also allegedly involved in recruiting new members for the group.
Issa was identified as the head of Nusaybah Katibah (ISIS-NK), an all-female ISIS unit established in the Syrian city of Raqqah in 2016. The unit recruited, organised and trained women in combat and military skills. At its peak, the United States said, ISIS-NK had hundreds of trained members, including American and European nationals.
Although the unit's capabilities declined after ISIS lost the territory it once controlled, Washington said ISIS-NK remains active and continues to pose a threat.
The State Department said Issa, while leading a section of ISIS-NK, played a role in enforcing the group's interpretation of Islamic law, particularly rules imposed on women.
She was also accused of issuing orders that resulted in physical punishment of women, including beatings and killings.
The United States further accused Issa of having custody of abducted children, including two American siblings, Yusuf and Zahra Shikder.
Rewards for Justice is offering up to $5 million for information that could help locate Issa. The programme did not provide details on where she is currently believed to be.
GAROWE ONLINE
