A federal indictment accuses Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi of working with Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to help plan attacks in the United States and Europe.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A dual citizen of Iraq and Iran has been charged in an eight-count federal indictment accusing him of helping plan terrorist attacks against U.S. and Israeli targets, including alleged plots involving American soil and locations across Europe.
Federal prosecutors said Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi acted as an operative for Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, both of which are designated by the United States as foreign terrorist organizations. The indictment, announced Thursday, alleges that Al-Saadi was involved in military and terrorism-related planning tied to nearly 20 potential attacks.
The Justice Department accused Al-Saadi of working with senior leaders from both organizations to target U.S. citizens, American political figures and U.S. military leaders. Prosecutors said the alleged plots were intended as retaliation for strikes against Iranian-backed figures. The indictment also accuses him of helping plan 18 attacks in Europe.
“As alleged in this indictment, Al-Saadi has been directly involved in terrorist operations and military decisions to attack U.S. and Israeli interests across the world and conspired with others to plan deadly attacks on American soil,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said. “Now that he has been removed from his perch as an alleged commander of Kata’ib Hizballah with close ties to the Iranian regime and its proxies around the world, we look forward to vigorously prosecuting him under American law in an American courtroom.”
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton in Manhattan said Al-Saadi had worked since at least 2017 on behalf of organizations hostile to the United States and its allies. Clayton said the groups “have a stated goal of destroying our society and our collective commitment to freedom, security, and a better world for our children.”
“The IRGC’s claims are not just rhetoric, they are taking action around the world to undermine America and American values. All Americans should recognize that we have sworn enemies and when your enemies tell you something, and when they act, you should know that they mean it,” Clayton said.
The indictment describes Al-Saadi as tied to Kata’ib Hizballah leadership and to Iran’s broader network of proxy forces. Federal officials said the charges reflect an effort to hold him accountable in a U.S. courtroom for alleged involvement in plots against American, Israeli and allied interests.
The case was filed in Manhattan federal court. Prosecutors said they intend to pursue the charges under U.S. law as part of a broader effort to disrupt overseas-backed terrorism operations aimed at American targets.
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