Iraqi jihad leader was plotting massacres at NYC synagogue and 17 other sites targeting Americans and Jews

Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi was working to “further the terrorist goals of Kata’ib Hizballah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” and the way he planned to do it was through more terror of his own. Here yet again we see that the Islamic Republic of Iran considers terror to be its preferred method for dealing with its opponents. Why? Because terror is what the Qur’an recommends: “Make ready for them all that you can of force and of warhorses, so that by them you may strike terror in the enemy of Allah and your enemy…” — Qur’an 8:60

“Iraqi militant leader ‘directed and urged’ attacks on Americans and Jews over Iran war, feds say,” by Mark Morales, CNN, May 15, 2026:

Federal authorities arrested and charged an Iraqi militant leader with coordinating and planning at least 18 terrorist attacks in Europe that targeted Americans and Jews, all in the name of ending the war in Iran, according to a federal criminal complaint.

Prosecutors allege Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi “directed and urged others to attack US and Israeli interests,” in retaliation for the war and to “further the terrorist goals of Kata’ib Hizballah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and his associates,” according to the complaint.

Al-Saadi also coordinated two additional attacks in Canada and directed others and attempted to coordinate terrorist attacks in the US, including against a synagogue in New York City, prosecutors allege.

Prosecutors say al-Saadi is a commander for Kataib Hezbollah, a US-designated foreign terrorist organization based in Iraq. The organization is also closely aligned with the IRGC, which is also a foreign terrorist organization. He’s been involved with the group since 2017, prosecutors say.

CNN was the first to report a link between Kataib Hezbollah and the group which claimed responsibility for the string of arson attacks that targeted Jewish sites across Europe, including synagogues, schools and ambulances.

Prosecutors allege Kataib Hezbollah has been operating under a pseudonym — Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI) — to carry out the attacks. A source close to Kataib Hezbollah told CNN earlier this month that some members of HAYI are Iraqi and that the two groups are connected….

Prosecutors allege al-Saadi was trying to orchestrate the bombing of a “prominent” Jewish synagogue in New York City.

He was also trying to target two other locations in the US, Jewish centers in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Arizona, prosecutors allege in the complaint.

While trying to orchestrate the attack on the New York City synagogue, al-Saadi thought he was speaking to a Mexican cartel member who said he could carry out the violence when, in fact, he was dealing with an undercover agent, according to the complaint.

Al-Saadi agreed to pay $10,000 for the attack, but insisted it had to be recorded. Investigators say he insisted on the attack happening on April 6 and when the attack never materialized, he sent the undercover agent a text the next morning asking why, the complaint says….

Al-Saadi has close ties to other leaders of US-designated foreign terrorist organizations, including Esmail Qaani, Soleimani’s successor as the commander of IRGC-QF and Akram ‘Abbas al-Kabi, the secretary general of Harakat al-Nujaba, a militia backed by Iran, prosecutors said.

Al-Saadi would use various social media accounts to promote terrorist attacks and pledge retaliation, according to the complaint….