Federal officials have charged a commander from an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia with orchestrating extensive attacks against Americans and Jews. This included nearly two dozen operations abroad before a plot targeting a major synagogue in Manhattan and various Jewish institutions in California and Arizona was thwarted.
It was announced on Friday that Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, said to be a senior figure in Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi militia supported by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), had been coordinating attacks against American, Israeli, and Jewish interests since late February, following military tensions with Iran.
Prosecutors argue that al-Saadi and his associates were responsible for or claimed credit for at least 18 attacks in Europe and two in Canada, and they were actively trying to extend these operations into the U.S.
Officials noted that al-Saadi was detained overseas and brought to New York as part of what FBI Director Kash Patel described as a successful international transfer process for suspects.
Patel emphasized that the FBI’s successful operation against al-Saadi is a significant step in the administration’s ongoing efforts to bring terrorists to justice.
He also labeled the mission as “justice,” thanking the FBI teams and partners involved in the operation for their roles.
Further, Patel expressed appreciation for allies worldwide, particularly acknowledging Ambassador Tom Barrack for his contributions in securing al-Saadi’s transfer to U.S. authorities.
Prosecutors reported a rise in terrorist activities following Operation Epic Fury, initiated in late February.
According to court documents, al-Saadi frequently incited violence in online forums and encrypted messages, specifically calling for assaults against Americans and Israelis.
On the day the retaliatory operations began, he reportedly urged his followers to “kill everyone who supports America and Israel,” insisting that no one should be spared, whether they were civilians or military personnel.
Authorities alleged that al-Saadi orchestrated and supported attacks against specific American and Israeli targets, including operations intended to injure or kill individuals in those communities.
Investigators noted a quick escalation of retaliatory actions across Europe in the early conflict stages.
Federal filings claim that al-Saadi’s associates executed or coordinated attacks against Jewish schools, synagogues, charities, and financial institutions in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, the U.K., and Canada in recent months.
The complaint details various incidents, including a synagogue bombing in Liege, Belgium, in March, arson attacks on Jewish sites in Rotterdam and London, explosive assaults on financial establishments in Amsterdam and Paris, and the stabbing deaths of two Jewish men in London.
Authorities further accused a group known as Harakat Ahab al-Yamin al-Islam (HAYI), suggested to be operating as a front for Kataib Hezbollah, of being involved in these activities.
Federal officials stated they acted decisively upon finding that al-Saadi was trying to extend his operations into the U.S.
Prosecutors contended that al-Saadi mistakenly believed he was in contact with Mexican cartel operatives capable of executing attacks within the U.S., when he was, in fact, communicating with undercover law enforcement.
The complaint alleges he shared maps and photographs of synagogues in Manhattan and Jewish facilities in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Arizona.
Investigators claim al-Saadi agreed to pay $10,000 in virtual currency for an attack and even made a down payment of about $3,000, insisting on recording the operation.
During a phone conversation on April 1, al-Saadi reportedly stated, “The war is not over. Either they exterminate us or we exterminate them.”
Authorities indicated they intercepted the planned attack on the Manhattan synagogue before it could proceed.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch remarked that this incident underscores the global threat posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies, specifically Kataib Hezbollah, and added that they successfully thwarted a synagogue attack.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche characterized the allegations as indicative of an Iranian-supported international terrorist initiative targeting Americans and Jews.
He asserted that American law enforcement is resolute in preventing such threats from going unchecked.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton charged that al-Saadi aimed to disturb American society through acts of intimidation and violence, issuing a warning that those who partake in or back terrorism against Americans should be on guard.
According to court records, al-Saadi maintained close ties with high-ranking Iranian officials, including former Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, until Soleimani’s death in a U.S. military strike ordered by President Trump in 2020.
Al-Saadi appeared in federal court in Manhattan and was held pending further proceedings. His lawyer claimed he regarded himself as a “political prisoner” and “prisoner of war,” arguing that he was transferred from Turkey to U.S. custody without any chance to contest the process.
“We believe he is a political prisoner and a prisoner of war,” said his lawyer.
