US Posts $5M Bounty for American Siblings Abducted to ISIS Territory

​The United States Department of State has announced a reward of up to $5 million through its Rewards for Justice program for critical information leading to the location, recovery, and repatriation of Yusuf and Zahra Shikder.

​The American siblings were originally abducted from Florida in March 2015 by their mother, Rashida Shikder, who transported them to Syria without the consent of their father, Bashirul Shikder, during the height of the Islamic State’s territorial expansion.

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​According to federal notices, the children’s situation shifted drastically following their mother’s death in a 2019 bombing raid. Intelligence reports indicate that custody of the minor siblings was subsequently assumed by Khadra Essa—an influential ISIS figure and Sharia instructor also known as Umm Qaqa al-Somali—leaving their current whereabouts shrouded in uncertainty within remnants of former conflict zones.

​Authorities have released age-progressed photographs alongside original childhood images to prompt public recognition. The State Department guarantees confidentiality for tipsters and has emphasized that successful information could secure both substantial financial compensation and relocation assistance. Anyone with relevant intelligence is urged to contact security channels.