U.S. Officials Announce Arrest of Senior Kata'ib Hizballah Commander

Officials announced the arrest of Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, a senior commander of Kata'ib Hizballah and operative of Iran's IRGC. He has been charged with directing nearly 20 terrorist attacks across Europe and plotting attacks inside the United States. The scope of the alleged operations included 18 confirmed terrorist attacks in Europe over three months and two more in Canada.

Specific incidents cited include bombings at the Bank of New York Mellon in Amsterdam and an arson at a synagogue in North Macedonia. Al-Saadi, a British citizen, allegedly attempted to coordinate attacks on a prominent New York City synagogue, a Los Angeles Jewish institution, and a Scottsdale, Arizona Jewish center.

He reportedly sent maps of the locations to an undercover FBI agent whom he believed was an operative.

He discussed whether to use an IED or set the place on fire at the New York synagogue. Photos from his own social media accounts show him posing with Qasem Soleimani at military facilities. Al-Saadi worked directly with Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who were killed in a 2020 U.S.

airstrike. Officials said the operations were directed through Iranian proxies while Iran's foreign ministry was engaged in negotiations.

The arrest was carried out by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force. Officials stated that the effort prevented an attack on a synagogue on U.S. soil. The Iranian regime's alleged reach extended to American cities and was within days of an attack on Americans on American streets, according to the announcement.