THE US Department of State has issued a hit list of foreign terrorist fighters believed to be ringleaders in the Islamic State army.

The countdown of the world’s most wanted identifies the most dangerous terrorists, and comes with orders to block their assets and makes it a crime for any US person to come into contact with them.

Citing ten terrorists from around the world with qualifiers like “in charge of kidnappings” and “targeting tourists, entertainment establishments, and tourists”, the list shows America’s focus is not just on locally-based fighters in Iraq and Syria.

The network of foreign fighters hail mainly from Chechnya and Scandinavian countries, and includes leaders of Chechen and Moroccan-led organisations as well.

Leading the hit list is Amru Al-Absi, who “has been in charge of kidnappings” as “a principal leader of Islamic State in Syria”.

French-based extremist Salim Benghalem, who carries out executions on behalf of the group is second on the list. The list reveals he is the subject of a European arrest warrant because of his activities on behalf of Islamic State and spent time in a French prison for murder.

One of Islamic State’s chief trainers, Maalim Salman, is identified in the top ten as “the head of African foreign fighters for al-Shabaab”.

“He has trained foreign nationals who were seeking to join al-Shabaab as foreign fighters, and has been involved in operations in Africa targeting tourists, ‘entertainment establishments,’ and churches,” Salman’s description reads.

Lavdrim Muhaxheri, a Kosovar Albanian Islamic State fighter who made headlines in July after uploading photos of himself beheading a man to Facebook also makes the list.

The list is reminiscent of the deck of cards wanted list for Saddam Hussein’s henchmen issued by the US during the war in Iraq.

Although no Australian makes the list, it is believed at least three among the more than 60 who have travelled to Iraq and Syria to fight, are highly ranked within the terror organisation.

Former Kings Cross bouncer and actor Mohammed Ali Baryalei claims to be the operational commander, and was linked to a plot to behead a member of the public in Sydney’s CBD, thwarted in the September 18 terror raids.

Khaled Sharrouf and Mohammed Elomar, two Sydney extremists, are now believed to have inflated their seniority among the ranks of Islamic State, the Daily Telegraph reports.