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U.S. Prosecutors Accuse Iraqi Militia Leader of Directing Attacks on American and Israeli Targets
Federal prosecutors have charged Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi with directing attacks against American and Israeli interests. Officials say he serves as a leader of Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi militia with ties to Iran. The charges focus on alleged planning that included targets in New York City.
May 15, 1:16 PM·1m read1 source
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Officials identified him as a leader of Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi militia with ties to Iran. The accusations were detailed in a criminal complaint unsealed on Thursday. The charges describe activities in which Al-Saadi is said to have instructed associates to strike both U.S. and Israeli targets.
Background on the Militia Kataib Hezbollah has operated for years as an Iraqi armed group. The organization maintains documented connections to Iran, according to U.S. officials. The militia has previously been linked to attacks on American forces in the region.
Thursday's charges represent a direct accusation against one of its reported leaders for plotting strikes inside the United States. No additional details about potential co-conspirators or current custody status were released in the initial filing. The case is being handled by federal prosecutors in New York.
