Who is Al-Saadi? Iraqi national arrested in US over Iran-backed terror charges

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced the arrest of alleged terror commander Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, an Iraqi national charged with six terrorism-related offenses for his alleged role as an operative of Kata’ib Hizballah and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

According to the DOJ, Al-Saadi is allegedly linked to nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks across Europe and the United States.

“Al-Saadi was arrested on the charges contained in the complaint, which was unsealed today, transferred into U.S. custody overseas, and transported to the United States,” the department said in a statement.

He was presented before Sarah Netburn, a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Manhattan federal court, and was ordered detained pending trial.

“Thanks to the dedication and vigilance of law enforcement, this alleged terrorist commander is now in U.S. custody,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

“As alleged in the complaint, Al-Saadi directed and urged others to attack U.S. and Israeli interests and to kill Americans and Jews in the U.S. and abroad, advancing the terrorist goals of Kata’ib Hizballah and the IRGC. These charges show American law enforcement will never let such evil go unchecked and will use all available tools to disrupt and dismantle foreign terrorist organizations and their leaders.”

FBI Director Kash Patel described the operation as another major success against global terrorism.

“The FBI’s successful FTOC of Mohammad Al-Saadi, another high-value target responsible for mass global terrorism, is the latest success in this administration’s efforts to bring terrorists to justice,” Patel said.

He also praised U.S. agents, investigators, tactical units, and international allies, particularly Ambassador Tom Barrack, for their role in securing Al-Saadi’s transfer to the United States.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said Al-Saadi allegedly coordinated a wave of attacks across Europe, including bombings, arson, and assaults targeting American communities and interests.

“The complaint further alleges that Al-Saadi discussed attacking locations in New York, California, and Arizona, presenting a serious threat to our national security,” Eisenberg said.

Who is Al-Saadi?

Al-Saadi is described as a senior commander of Kata’ib Hizballah, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization operating in Iraq and closely aligned with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The IRGC, which operates under the authority of Iran’s Supreme Leader, has publicly declared its intention to target perceived enemies of the Iranian regime and has allegedly plotted and carried out attacks against U.S. citizens both abroad and within the United States.

The group relies on regional proxies such as Kata’ib Hizballah, which has reportedly received extensive training, weapons, funding, intelligence, and logistical support from the IRGC’s Qods Force.

According to prosecutors, Al-Saadi worked closely with Qasem Soleimani, the longtime commander of the IRGC’s Qods Force, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, both of whom were killed in a U.S. airstrike in 2020.

Charges Against Al-Saadi

Al-Saadi, 32, faces six serious federal charges, including:

Conspiring to provide material support to Kata’ib Hizballah (maximum 20 years in prison)
Conspiring to provide material support to the IRGC (maximum 20 years)
Conspiring to support acts of terrorism, including attempts to murder U.S. nationals and bomb public places (maximum 15 years)
Providing material support for terrorism (maximum 15 years)
Conspiring to bomb a place of public use (maximum life imprisonment)
Attempted destruction of property by fire or explosive (mandatory minimum five years, maximum 20 years)

If convicted on all counts, Al-Saadi could face multiple decades in prison, including a possible life sentence.