Who is Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, Kata’ib Hizballah commander arrested by US over terror plot charges
US authorities on Friday arrested Kata’ib Hizballah commander Mohammad Baqer Al-Saadi over alleged Iran-linked terror plots targeting New York, Los Angeles and Scottsdale. DOJ says he coordinated attacks across Europe and Canada and faces six terrorism-related charges.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday (local time) announced the arrest of a terrorist commander who was accused of planning three attacks across the country. He was indicted on terrorism charges on Wednesday.
In a release, the DOJ 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).
Who is Al-Saadi?
He has worked closely with Qasem Soleimani, the longtime commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force (IRGC-QF), who was killed during a US airstrike in 2020. He also worked with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was the leader of Kata’ib Hizballah until he was killed in the same airstrike as Soleimani.
What is Al-Saadi accused of?
Al-Saadi is reportedly accused of hiring someone who turned out to be an undercover member of law enforcement to carry out the attacks, which were planned for New York City, Los Angeles, and Scottsdale, Arizona.
The alleged plot comes more than two months after the US and Israel launched a war against Iran.
Charges against Al-Saadi
Al-Saadi has been charged by complaint with six terrorism-related counts for acting as an operative of Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran’s IRGC. Authorities allege 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:
- Conspiring to provide material support to Kata’ib Hizballah (up to 20 years in prison)
2. Conspiring to provide material support to the IRGC (up to 20 years in prison)
3. Conspiring to provide material support for terrorism, including murder and bombing offenses (up to 15 years in prison)
4. Providing material support for terrorism (up to 15 years in prison)
5. Conspiring to bomb a place of public use (up to life in prison)
6. Attempted destruction of property using fire or explosives (five-year mandatory minimum, up to 20 years)
Al-Saadi directed attacks on US and Israeli interests
The DOJ noted that since the US and Israel’s war in Iran began, 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, along with two additional attacks in Canada.
He also allegedly directed and attempted to coordinate attacks in the United States, including in New York City. On April 29, 2026, two Jewish men were stabbed in London in an attack reportedly carried out by Al-Saadi’s associates.
Online indictment
On February 28, when the war started, Al-Saadi wrote on Telegram, “Do not abandon the blood of your Imam of the time, oh Shiites of Iraq. Kill everyone who supports America and Israel,” according to the indictment, and added, “Do not leave any of them remaining. Civil and military targets, as well as voices of discord, kill them everywhere.”
Attacks across Europe
Al-Saadi was also involved in helping orchestrate 18 attacks across Europe since the start of the war, including:
A synagogue in Liège, Belgium
A Jewish school in Amsterdam
The Bank of America building in Paris
Arson attacks in London
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 to kill Americans and Jews in the US and abroad, and in doing so advance the terrorist goals of Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel said, “This was a righteous mission executed brilliantly by our agents, investigators, CIRG tactical units, and interagency partners who delivered yet again.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said, “This case puts into stark relief the global threats posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies like Kata’ib Hizballah—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, in partnership with the synagogue’s leadership, ensured its security when the threat was elevated.”
The DOJ stated that Al-Saadi was taken into US custody overseas and brought to the country. He was later produced before a magistrate in Manhattan federal court and ordered held without bail pending trial.
- Al-Saadi's arrest underscores the international reach of Iranian-backed terrorism.
- The coordinated efforts between US and international law enforcement agencies are crucial in combating global terrorist threats.
- The indictment highlights the specific nature of threats against Jewish communities and US interests since the war began.
About the Author
Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br> Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br> At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br> She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br> Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
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