The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Friday (local time) the arrest of a terrorist commander accused of planning three attacks across the country. He was charged with terrorism on Wednesday.
In a statement, the Justice Department identified the man as Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, an Iraqi national and senior member of Kata’ib Hizballah, a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
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Who is Al-Saadi?
He worked closely with Qasem Soleimani, the long-time commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force (IRGC-QF), who was killed in a US airstrike in 2020. He also worked with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was the leader of Kata’ib Hizballah until Soleimani was killed in the same airstrike.
What is Al-Saadi accused of?
Al-Saadi is allegedly accused of hiring someone who turned out to be an undercover member of law enforcement to carry out the attacks, which were planned in New York City, Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Arizona.
The alleged plot comes more than two months after the US and Israel went to war against Iran.
Allegations against Al-Saadi
Al-Saadi was indicted on six terrorism-related charges for acting as an agent of Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran’s IRGC. Authorities say he was involved in nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks across Europe and the United States.
The 32-year-old Iraqi national faces the following charges:
- Conspiracy to provide material support to Kata’ib Hezbollah (up to 20 years in prison)
2. Conspiracy to provide material support to the IRGC (up to 20 years in prison)
3. Conspiracy to provide material support to terrorism, including murder and bombings (up to 15 years in prison)
4. Providing material support to terrorism (up to 15 years in prison)
5. Conspiracy to bomb a place of public use (up to life in prison)
6. Attempt to destroy property by fire or explosives (mandatory minimum 5 years, up to 20 years)
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Al-Saadi directed attacks on US and Israeli interests
The Justice Department noted that since the start of the US-Israeli war in Iran, he has directed attacks against US and Israeli interests, including incidents involving the killing of Americans and Jews.
He and his associates are accused of planning, coordinating and claiming responsibility for at least 18 terrorist attacks across Europe and two other attacks in Canada.
He also allegedly directed and attempted to coordinate attacks in the United States, including New York. On 29 April 2026, two Jewish men were stabbed in London in an attack allegedly carried out by associates of Al-Saadi.
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Online accusations
On February 28, when the war began, Al-Saadi wrote on Telegram: “Do not leave the blood of your Imam of that time, O Shiites of Iraq. Kill everyone who supports America and Israel,” according to the indictment, adding: “Do not leave any of them. Civilian and military targets, as well as voices of discord, kill them everywhere.”
Attacks across Europe
Al-Saadi was also involved in helping to organize 18 attacks across Europe since the start of the war, including:
Synagogue in Liège, Belgium
Jewish school in Amsterdam
Bank of America building in Paris
US officials react to Al-Saadi’s arrest
Commenting on Al-Saadi’s arrest, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said: “As alleged in the complaint, Al-Saadi directed and urged others to attack US and Israeli interests and kill Americans and Jews in the US and abroad in furtherance of the terrorist goals of Kata’ib Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel said, “This was a righteous mission that was executed superbly by our agents, investigators, CIRG tactical units and interagency partners.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said: “This case casts into stark relief the global threats posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies, such as Kata’ib Hezbollah – foreign terrorist organizations that have repeatedly targeted Jewish communities across Europe and the United States since the war began.” She added: “Working with our law enforcement partners, we disrupted a plot against a Manhattan synagogue and worked with synagogue leadership to ensure its security when the threat was heightened.”
The Justice Department said Al-Saadi was taken into US custody overseas and brought into the country. He was later arraigned before a magistrate judge in Manhattan federal court and ordered held without bail pending trial.
Key things
- Al-Saadi’s arrest underscores the international reach of Iran-backed terrorism.
- Coordinated efforts between U.S. and international law enforcement agencies are critical to combating global terrorist threats.
- The indictment highlights the specific nature of the threats against Jewish communities and US interests since the beginning of the war.
