22 November 2016, 16:23 GMT
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The release noted that Daesh terrorist group named al-Baghdadi as caliph when it declared a "so-called Islamic caliphate" in 2014 after taking over parts of Iraq and Syria.
"Today, the U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice Program is increasing to $25 million its reward offer for information leading to the location, arrest, or conviction of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) [Daesh] leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, also known as Ibrahim ‘Awwad Ibrahim ‘Ali al-Badri, also known as Abu Du’a," the release stated.
Al-Baghdadi and Daesh are responsible for thousands of civilians deaths in the Middle East including the deaths of civilian hostages from the United States, United Kingdom and Japan, the release added.
