DOJ Charges Iraqi Militia Commander in Iran-Backed Plot Against Jewish Centers
Federal prosecutors allege Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi directed 18 attacks in Europe and planned coordinated strikes on Jewish institutions in New York, Los Angeles, and Arizona.
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Federal authorities announced the arrest of Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, a 32-year-old Iraqi national described by prosecutors as a commander and high-level member of Kata’ib Hizballah, for his alleged role in nearly 20 terrorist attacks and attempted attacks across Europe, Canada, and the United States, including an alleged plot targeting Jewish institutions on U.S. soil.
The complaint, unsealed Friday in Manhattan federal court, charges Al-Saadi with six terrorism-related counts, including conspiracy to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations and attempted destruction of property by means of fire or explosives.
Al-Saadi, who was transferred to U.S. custody, appeared in court Friday and was ordered held without bail. Officials described the case as a major disruption of an alleged Iran-backed plot targeting Jewish communities and U.S. interests.
The IRGC-linked Plot
The criminal complaint details how Al-Saadi, working on behalf of Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), attempted to coordinate attacks against Jewish targets in three U.S. cities. In early April 2026, Al-Saadi contacted an undercover law enforcement officer, believing he was a Mexican cartel member capable of carrying out domestic attacks. Al-Saadi sent photographs and maps showing the exact locations of a prominent Manhattan synagogue, a Jewish center in Los Angeles, and another in Scottsdale, Arizona.
During phone conversations with the undercover officer, Al-Saadi discussed whether to use improvised explosive devices or “set the place on fire” at the New York synagogue. He offered $10,000 to carry out simultaneous arson attacks on all three locations and transferred approximately $3,000 in cryptocurrency as a down payment. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said documents Al-Saadi allegedly sent described the Los Angeles and Scottsdale Jewish centers as “staunch supporters of Zionism outside Israel” and a “beacon for solidarity and support to Israel and its Zionist objectives.”
The European Terror Campaign
Between March and April 2026, Al-Saadi and his network allegedly carried out at least 18 attacks across Europe and two in Canada under the name Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, which federal investigators identified as a front group for Kata’ib Hizballah. DOJ said the first European attack occurred on or about March 9, the same day Al-Saadi allegedly posted a message calling on “warriors of Islam” to engage in “jihad.”
The complaint documents multiple strikes. On March 15, operatives bombed the Bank of New York Mellon building in Amsterdam. On April 12, arsonists attacked a synagogue in Skopje, North Macedonia. On April 29, two Jewish men, including a dual U.S.-British citizen, were stabbed in London. Al-Saadi published propaganda videos claiming responsibility for each attack, using well-established media channels associated with Iran-backed militias.
The IRGC Connection
Court documents allege Al-Saadi had close ties to senior IRGC, Kata’ib Hizballah, Hizballah, and other U.S.-designated terrorist leaders. Social media posts cited in the complaint show Al-Saadi with Qasem Soleimani, the former IRGC Qods Force commander killed in a 2020 U.S. airstrike, while prosecutors allege he also worked closely with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the former Kata’ib Hizballah leader killed in the same strike. In July 2020, Al-Saadi posted an image depicting the U.S. Capitol in ruins with text reading “our revenge for the martyred leaders is ongoing.”
In February 2026, Al-Saadi published a message instructing followers to “kill everyone who supports America and Israel” and target “civil and military targets.” According to the complaint, the alleged campaign followed the start of a U.S.-Israeli military conflict with Iran on or about February 28, 2026, during which Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the joint strikes.
The Terror Network
Kata’ib Hizballah, designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. in 2009, operates with extensive support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The group includes an estimated 7,000 to 10,000 members and has conducted at least 150 attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria since October 2023. The IRGC itself was designated as a foreign terrorist organization in April 2019.
Michael Knights, a fellow at the Washington Institute, described Al-Saadi as “like the Iranian Jack Ryan” and noted “there’s no group in Iraq closer to Iran than Kata’ib Hezbollah, and there’s almost no one more senior within KH than Al-Saadi.”
Al-Saadi faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted on all counts. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 29.
When dealing with ‘’True Terrorists!’
i feel, ‘any’ key ‘Out,’ -should be thrown -away, Forever!!
Just, as
He/They- in ‘Their’ -intransigence, hatred & cruelty,have thrown, ‘away’- the ‘lives’ of Their ‘victims,’
(& ‘Their’ loved ones,friends & families- to a future-‘without‘-Their victims!/families-Forever!
Please, throw ‘away,’ ‘any’ key, or ‘hope,’-of release- Out of Their: ‘Just,’ ‘retribution,’-Too!!
💔✝️(‘forever’-✡️)🇮🇱🙏🏼