US Charges Senior Kataib Hezbollah Leader for 20+ Attack Plots
The U.S. has arrested
Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, 32, an Iraqi national and senior commander of
Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group designated as a foreign terrorist organization
Aljazeera+1. Prosecutors allege he was responsible for
planning and coordinating at least 20 attacks across Europe, Canada, and the United States since late February 2026
DNyuz+1.
Scope of Alleged Plots
According to the criminal complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal court, al-Saadi:
- Planned explosive attacks on synagogues in New York City and Los Angeles, as well as Jewish institutions in Arizona DNyuz+1.
- Coordinated at least 18 attacks in Europe and two in Canada between March and April 2026 www.turkiyetoday.com.
- Targeted American interests such as the Bank of New York Mellon in Amsterdam www.turkiyetoday.com+1.
- Used social media platforms like Snapchat and Telegram to promote attacks and celebrate bombings Aljazeera.
Examples of European attacks include:
- March 9: Explosives at a synagogue in Liege, Belgium.
- March 13: Arson at a synagogue in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
- March 14: Explosives at a Jewish school in Amsterdam.
- March 15: Bombing of the Bank of New York Mellon in Amsterdam.
- April 12: Firebombing of a synagogue in Skopje, North Macedonia www.turkiyetoday.com.
Alleged Ties to Iran
The U.S. alleges al-Saadi worked closely with
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the
Quds Force, including with the late commander
Qasem Soleimani, to advance Iran’s regional agenda
Aljazeera+1. He is described as a high-level figure in Kataib Hezbollah’s leadership and one of the most senior known to have been arrested by the U.S. since the war began
DNyuz.
Arrest and Charges
U.S. Government Response
FBI Director Kash Patel called al-Saadi “another high-value target responsible for mass global terrorism” and praised the joint operation to bring him to justice
Aljazeera. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said the case highlights the government’s efforts to disrupt American society through intimidation and violence
Al-Monitor.
In summary, al-Saadi is accused of orchestrating a wide-ranging campaign of retaliatory attacks against U.S. and Jewish communities in multiple countries, allegedly in coordination with Iran’s IRGC and Quds Force.