U.S. authorities on Friday detailed charges against a commander of an Iran-backed Iraqi militia who was allegedly involved in plotting terrorism against Jewish people in Europe, Canada, and the United States. Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, 32, is said to have directed and urged others to attack U.S. and Israeli interests, and to kill Americans and Jews, in retaliation for the war against Iran.
Senior Role in Terrorist Organization
Al-Saadi was identified as a senior figure in Kataeb Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to U.S. court filings, Al-Saadi and unidentified associates planned, coordinated, and claimed responsibility for at least 18 terrorist attacks in Europe and two in Canada. Those attacks appear to have been carried out both in retaliation for the United States and Israel's recent military actions against Iran and to compel them to halt those actions, a criminal complaint states.
Examples of Attacks
Examples included the non-fatal stabbing of two Jewish men in London on April 29, as well as several arson attacks on synagogues, Israeli businesses, and Jewish schools in Amsterdam, Munich, and elsewhere. Al-Saadi's exact role is unclear, beyond allegations that he posted propaganda videos of the attacks on social media after they happened.
Phone Call Evidence
In a recorded phone call, Al-Saadi is said to have unwittingly told an FBI informant that he or his associates were involved in the European attacks, as well as two in Canada. Authorities believe those include the March 10 shooting at the U.S. consulate in Toronto, in which no one was injured.
Plot in the United States
Al-Saadi is most recently alleged to have plotted attacks in the United States against a New York synagogue and two Jewish centres in California and Arizona. He allegedly paid an undercover U.S. agent a US$3,000 down payment to conduct the New York attack, before a warrant for his arrest was issued.
Arrest and Charges
FBI director Kash Patel said on X that his agency had arrested and returned Al-Saadi to the United States, calling him a high-value target responsible for mass global terrorism. Al-Saadi appeared Friday at a Manhattan court where he was charged with six counts including conspiracy to provide material support to terrorist groups Kataeb Hezbollah and the IRGC. He is also charged with conspiring and providing material support for acts of terrorism and conspiring to bomb a place of public use.
The Islamic Republic has in the past been accused of seeking to orchestrate terrorist incidents, and several have occurred since U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran began in late February. This case highlights ongoing concerns about Iran-backed militia activities targeting Jewish communities worldwide.
