The arrest and charging of Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi have revealed a far-reaching scheme orchestrated by Iran-backed militants targeting American and Israeli interests. Al-Saadi, linked to the Kata’ib Hizballah militia and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, allegedly coordinated a series of violent attacks across Europe, Canada, and the U.S., incorporating a planned bombing of a Manhattan synagogue that federal authorities disrupted before any harm occurred.
Federal prosecutors allege al-Saadi directed at least 20 assaults, including a firebombing at a bank in Amsterdam, an attempted bomb detonation at a Bank of America branch in Paris, and attacks on Jewish institutions in the United States. His network, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, has claimed responsibility for numerous assaults in Europe and Canada. According to the complaint, al-Saadi recruited individuals and provided funds to carry out attacks in multiple U.S. states, including California, Arizona, and New York, though one recruited attacker turned out to be an FBI undercover agent.
Al-Saadi was apprehended in Turkey before being extradited to the United States. He faces charges of conspiring to provide material support to terrorist organizations, conspiring to bomb a public location, and related offenses. During court proceedings, al-Saadi described himself as a prisoner of war and emphasized his connection to the late Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, a prominent IRGC commander killed in a U.S. strike. The Department of Justice released images linking al-Saadi to Soleimani, underlining his deep ties to Iran’s military and proxy networks.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch highlighted the case as evidence of the persistent danger posed by Iran’s proxies, especially Kata’ib Hizballah, which has targeted Jewish communities both in Europe and the U.S. since the start of hostilities involving Iran. Law enforcement agencies collaborated closely with local synagogue leaders to strengthen security measures when the threat emerged.