Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, a senior commander of the Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Kata’ib Hezbollah, appeared in Manhattan federal court on Friday. He faces charges for orchestrating a global terror campaign that included plotting to bomb a Manhattan synagogue and attack Jewish community centers in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Arizona.
The federal criminal complaint unsealed Friday details an attempted assassination and bombing plot that Al-Saadi allegedly coordinated through an FBI undercover officer. Prosecutors claim Al-Saadi believed the agent was a willing assassin willing to carry out attacks on behalf of the militia. The investigation suggests the operation was intended to retaliate for the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran and to apply pressure on Washington and Jerusalem to halt the conflict.
The Manhattan Indictment and the Alleged Bombing Plot
According to court documents, the plot began to unravel in early April 2026. On April 1, Al-Saadi was reportedly recorded asking how much it would cost to hire someone to carry out a bombing operation
in the United States. During the recorded conversation, he allegedly specified, I mean, we provide him with a Jewish temple, a Jewish center.
Federal prosecutors allege that Al-Saadi provided the undercover agent with a photograph and a map of a prominent Manhattan synagogue, or shul. He also allegedly provided similar identification materials for Jewish centers located in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Arizona. The two parties reportedly agreed on a total price of $10,000, to be paid in cryptocurrency. Al-Saadi allegedly sent a $3,000 down payment with instructions that the attack be executed by April 6, but he was arrested before that deadline.
Al-Saadi, an Iraqi national, was apprehended in Turkey before being transferred into American custody. During his appearance in Manhattan federal court on Friday afternoon, he did not speak. His defense attorney, federal defender Andrew Dalack, has contested the nature of the charges, describing Al-Saadi as a political prisoner
and a prisoner of war
. Dalack also stated that the defendant was unaware of any extradition proceedings.
Transnational Violence and the Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya Connection
The indictment extends far beyond the borders of the United States, linking Al-Saadi to a broader pattern of international violence. Prosecutors allege that Al-Saadi directed or claimed responsibility for at least 18 terrorist attacks in Europe and two additional attacks in Canada since late February 2026. These attacks were allegedly carried out in the name of Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, which the Department of Justice identifies as a component of Kata’ib Hezbollah.
This connection highlights the militia’s ability to project power through various cells and sub-groups to conduct kinetic operations globally. The scale of the alleged campaign suggests a coordinated effort to target specific demographics and interests in response to Middle Eastern geopolitical shifts. The indictment characterizes these actions as part of a global terror campaign orchestrated by Al-Saadi on behalf of both Kata’ib Hezbollah and the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
Kata’ib Hezbollah and the Iranian Proxy Network
Kata’ib Hezbollah, also known as the Hezbollah Brigades, is a prominent Iraqi Shia paramilitary group. It functions as a major component of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella organization of various Shiite militias. The group was formed following the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and has since grown into one of the most influential factions within the PMF.
The group operates under the direct command of Iran, maintaining a strict allegiance to the IRGC. Historically, Kata’ib Hezbollah has been characterized by its adherence to Khomeinism and the principle of Velayat-e Faqih. Its stated motives include Shia Islamism, anti-Americanism, and anti-Zionism. While the group’s size has fluctuated, reports indicate it had at most 2,000 members in 2010, grew to 10,000 by June 2014, and some claims placed its strength at over 30,000 by December 2014.
The militia’s leadership has transitioned over the years, notably following the death of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in 2020. The current leader is identified as Ahmad al-Hamidawi. Kata’ib Hezbollah remains an active force in several Iraqi regions, including Baghdad, Southern Iraq, and Western Iraq, and maintains a network of non-state allies, including Hezbollah and other factions within the Popular Mobilization Forces.
Geopolitical Implications of the Arrest
The arrest of a high-level commander like Al-Saadi underscores the escalating tension between Iranian-backed proxies and Western interests. The legal proceedings in the Southern District of New York serve as a significant development in the ongoing friction regarding the joint U.S.-Israeli military operations in the Middle East. By targeting civilian and religious centers in the United States, the alleged plot indicates a strategy of bringing the conflict to American soil to influence domestic policy.
The involvement of an FBI undercover operation in uncovering the plot demonstrates the intensity of the intelligence efforts currently directed at Iranian-linked paramilitary groups. As the case proceeds through the federal court system, the focus will likely remain on the extent of the coordination between Kata’ib Hezbollah and the IRGC, as well as the ability of these groups to leverage cryptocurrency and transnational networks to fund and execute operations across Europe, Canada, and the United States.
