US charges Iraqi with plots to target Jews in cities from London to LA

May 16, 2026

Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, a 32-year-old Iraqi militia commander allegedly affiliated with Kataib Hezbollah, has been arrested and charged with orchestrating approximately 20 terrorist attacks across Europe and North America targeting Jewish and American facilities. Prosecutors claim he attempted to recruit what he believed was a Mexican cartel member to bomb synagogues and Jewish centers in New York, Los Angeles, and Arizona, when the person was actually an undercover agent. The attacks, which included bombings, arson, and a stabbing incident between March and April, were allegedly carried out as retaliation for the Iran war and the 2020 killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani.

Who is affected

Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi (the defendant)
Jewish communities and synagogue attendees in Liège, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, London, Antwerp, Paris, Munich, New York City, Los Angeles, and Scottsdale
Two Jewish men who were stabbed in London on April 29
Bank of New York Mellon employees in Amsterdam
US and Israeli interests in Europe and North America
Kataib Hezbollah members
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

What action is being taken

Saadi is being held in solitary confinement pending trial
US law enforcement is working to disrupt and dismantle foreign terrorist organizations and their leaders
Saadi's attorney is challenging the detention conditions and characterizing it as political prosecution

Why it matters

This case represents a significant international counterterrorism operation targeting coordinated attacks against Jewish and American interests across multiple countries. The prosecution demonstrates the reach of US law enforcement in pursuing individuals who allegedly plan attacks on American soil from abroad, particularly those with connections to foreign terrorist organizations and Iranian-backed militia groups. The case also highlights ongoing tensions related to Iran-US relations and retaliatory violence connected to the death of Qasem Soleimani, showing that such conflicts continue to motivate terrorist activity years later.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC