Federal prosecutors have charged an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia commander with plotting simultaneous terror attacks on Jewish centers in Los Angeles, New York, and Arizona — a case that exposes the deadly reach of Iran’s terrorist networks inside the United States.
Story Highlights
- Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, a commander of Kata’ib Hizballah, was arrested in Turkey and extradited to the United States to face six terrorism-related federal charges.
- Prosecutors allege Al-Saadi paid an undercover agent $3,000 in cryptocurrency as a down payment to bomb or set fire to Jewish centers in Los Angeles, with simultaneous attacks planned in New York and Scottsdale, Arizona.
- Al-Saadi is also linked to approximately 18 terror plots across Europe and has prior ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including a documented association with slain Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.
- The Justice Department charged him with providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, underscoring the ongoing threat posed by Iran-backed networks operating on U.S. soil.
Iran-Backed Commander Brought to Justice in the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest and federal indictment of Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, identifying him as a commander within Kata’ib Hizballah, an Iran-backed terrorist organization. Al-Saadi faces six terrorism-related charges, including providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization. He was arrested in Turkey and subsequently extradited to the United States, where he is currently in federal custody in Manhattan. [5]
Al-Saadi’s alleged ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and his documented association with slain IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani place this case squarely within the broader pattern of Iranian state-sponsored terrorism targeting American interests and allies. Prosecutors allege he was not merely a low-level operative but an active commander directing real-world violence. [4]
Coordinated Attacks Targeting Jewish Americans Were the Goal
According to federal prosecutors, Al-Saadi attempted to pay an undercover agent $10,000 in cryptocurrency — providing a $3,000 down payment — to bomb or set fire to one of three Jewish centers in Los Angeles. Evidence cited by prosecutors includes communications with the undercover agent, photographs, and maps of the intended bombing locations, demonstrating a level of operational planning that goes well beyond idle threats. [4]
The alleged scheme did not stop in Los Angeles. Prosecutors say Al-Saadi also planned simultaneous attacks in New York and Scottsdale, Arizona, with all three strikes intended to occur at the same time. The coordinated, multi-city nature of the plot signals an organized terror network rather than a lone, disorganized actor — exactly the kind of Iran-directed infrastructure that U.S. intelligence agencies have long warned about. [4]
A Broader Terror Record Spanning Two Continents
Beyond his alleged U.S. plots, Al-Saadi is connected to approximately 18 terror attacks across Europe, according to reporting on the federal case. While specific European docket numbers have not been publicly released, the transnational scope of the allegations reflects a career terrorist operating across multiple jurisdictions under the protection and direction of an Iranian-backed network. [3]
Statement from Iraq on Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi’s arrest: (He’s in Manhattan right now, as far as I know.)
Sheikh Muzher Attallah Hussein Alwan Al-Saadi, the general sheikh of the Bani Saad tribe in Iraq:
“The sheikhs of the Bani Saad tribe in Iraq condemn and… https://t.co/SRrgcF8Vts
— Sharon Adarlo 👽 (@sadarlo1) May 16, 2026
This arrest is a direct result of sustained counterterrorism work and stands as a reminder of what open borders and lax national security policies ultimately enable. Iran has spent years embedding operatives and commanders like Al-Saadi into networks capable of striking inside the United States. The Trump administration’s aggressive posture toward Iran and its terror proxies — including the earlier elimination of Soleimani — has made cases like this one possible by degrading command structures and forcing operatives into the open. Americans who care about the safety of their families and communities should take note: the threat is real, it is organized, and it is being directed from Tehran. [5][7]
Sources:
[3] Web – Iraqi national charged in European terror attacks – WPXI
[4] Web – Iraqi national plotted terror attacks in U.S., officials say (Video)
[5] Web – Iraqi national charged with coordinating terror attacks that aimed to …
[7] Web – Iraqi National Arrested and Charged with Providing Material Support …
