Kata’ib Hizballah Commander Charged in 3 U.S. Attack Plot for $10,000 as NYPD Says Synagogue Was Targeted
Updated
Updated · NBC News · May 15
Kata’ib Hizballah Commander Charged in 3 U.S. Attack Plot for $10,000 as NYPD Says Synagogue Was Targeted
11 articles · Updated · NBC News · May 15
Federal prosecutors say Mohammad Al-Saadi tried last month to pay $10,000 to an undercover agent posing as a Mexican cartel member to burn a Manhattan synagogue and Jewish centers in Los Angeles and Scottsdale.
Six terrorism-related counts accuse the Iraqi citizen and Kata’ib Hizballah commander of conspiring to support terrorism and bomb a public place, with an initial appearance expected in federal court in Manhattan.
NYPD said the plot against a Manhattan synagogue was disrupted with law-enforcement partners and synagogue leaders after the threat level rose.
The complaint ties the alleged U.S. plot to the war launched against Iran on Feb. 28, saying Al-Saadi urged followers on Telegram, X and Snapchat to kill Americans and Israelis.
Investigators say he also helped orchestrate 18 attacks in Europe and 2 in Canada through HAYI, underscoring what officials describe as an ongoing Iran-linked threat to Jewish communities.
As antisemitic attacks surge globally, how is Iran weaponizing this hatred through its international network of terrorist proxies?
With Iran-backed terror plots now targeting U.S. soil, what does this reveal about the domestic cost of foreign wars?
Is Iran's economic warfare winning against U.S. military might, revealing a shrinking superpower advantage in the ongoing conflict?
Inside the 2026 Al-Saadi Case: How U.S. and Allies Disrupted Iran-Backed Plots Against Jewish Communities Worldwide
Overview
On May 15, 2026, the Justice Department announced the arrest of Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, an Iraqi national and senior member of Kata’ib Hizballah, marking a major breakthrough in counter-terrorism. Al-Saadi was charged with six terrorism-related offenses after authorities uncovered his alleged involvement in nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks across Europe and the United States. These plots, linked to both Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, repeatedly targeted Jewish communities since the war began. His apprehension revealed the global scope and seriousness of the terror threat, highlighting the importance of international cooperation.