Iranian-backed terrorist organization

Manhattan Arrest and Terror Plot Allegations

The arrest of Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi follows a federal investigation into a conspiracy to target religious institutions within the United States. According to reports from The Yeshiva World, Al-Saadi, an Iraqi national and high-level figure within Kata’ib Hezbollah, appeared in a Manhattan federal court on Friday afternoon, May 15, 2026.

Prosecutors allege that Al-Saadi was involved in a plot specifically targeting Jewish centers and synagogues, also referred to as shuls, in Manhattan. The Department of Justice characterized Al-Saadi as a senior member of the group, which is a designated foreign terrorist organization by the United States. The charges involve both the conspiracy to carry out these attacks and the provision of material support to an Iranian-backed terrorist entity. The unsealed indictment alleges that Al-Saadi used encrypted messaging applications to coordinate reconnaissance of religious institutions in the Upper West Side and Brooklyn. Federal agents from the FBI reportedly intercepted these communications during a six-month surveillance operation. According to the indictment, Al-Saadi’s communications included specific discussions regarding the timing and vulnerability of certain Manhattan landmarks. Prosecutors further allege that Al-Saadi facilitated the transfer of approximately $50,000 in illicit funds intended for the procurement of tactical equipment used by the militia.

The NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau issued a statement following the Friday court appearance, asserting that the arrest was the culmination of sustained intelligence sharing between federal and local agencies. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) responded to the charges by calling for heightened security protocols at Jewish community centers, citing the specific religious nature of the alleged targets. The FBI’s involvement centered on the interception of digital footprints that linked Al-Saadi to procurement efforts in the Middle East for materials intended for use in the United States.

Organizational Profile and State Ties

Kata’ib Hezbollah is an Iranian-sponsored, anti-American Shiite militia that operates primarily in Iraq, with ancillary operations extending into Syria. The group is a prominent component of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a collection of militias that was founded in 2014 to counter the advance of ISIL (ISIS) militants.

The organization maintains a close allegiance to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). While much of its activity is directed against United States and coalition forces, the group’s financial structure is complex. Recent reporting indicates that Kata’ib Hezbollah is partly financed by the Iraqi government, with thousands of its members drawing salaries directly from the state. The financial ties between the group and the state are a subject of ongoing investigation by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). While the Iraqi government maintains that payments to PMF members are part of a legitimate national security budget, U.S. officials argue these funds are diverted to support transnational militant activities.

The intersection of Kata’ib Hezbollah’s paramilitary activities and its integration into the Iraqi state has created significant diplomatic friction. While the Iraqi Prime Minister’s office has characterized the Popular Mobilization Forces as essential to national stability, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has maintained its designation of several KH-linked entities as terrorist organizations. The Iraqi Ministry of Interior has also expressed caution, requesting that the U.S. provide formal legal documentation regarding the arrest of Al-Saadi, citing concerns over the sovereignty of Iraqi nationals under international law. This dual status—as both a state-funded security component and a designated foreign terrorist organization—remains a primary point of contention in U.S.-Iraq bilateral relations.

The group earned a reputation for high-intensity tactics during the U.S.-led war in Iraq, specifically through the use of improvised rocket-assisted mortars (IRAMs) and deadly roadside bombs. The Counter Extremism Project notes that the militia has been responsible for some of the most lethal attacks against coalition forces throughout the conflict.

Regional Volatility and Leadership Rhetoric

The federal charges against Al-Saadi arrive during a period of heightened tension between Iran-backed groups and Western interests in the Middle East. Earlier this year, in January 2026, the leader of Kata’ib Hezbollah, Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, issued a statement warning of total war should Iran be attacked by foreign powers.

We affirm to the enemies that war against the [Islamic] Republic will not be a walk in the park. But rather, you will taste the bitterest forms of death, and nothing will remain of you in our region.

Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, Kata’ib Hezbollah chief

Al-Hamidawi described Iran as the fortress and pride of Muslims and called on the axis of resistance—a term encompassing regional allies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon—to assist Tehran in any potential conflict. This rhetoric comes as the United States continues to move military assets into the region in response to shifting geopolitical dynamics.

The pressure on the group’s leadership has intensified as the U.S. seeks to disrupt its command structure. Press TV reported in April 2026 that a $10 million bounty has been placed on the group’s leader, a move that the organization has characterized as a failure of American policy. The U.S. State Department defended the $10 million bounty on Al-Hamidawi, stating that the measure is a direct response to the group’s persistent threat to international maritime and regional security. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a formal rebuttal, describing the bounty as an extrajudicial attempt to destabilize the region and undermine the legitimate security institutions of Iraq. This dispute has led to a suspension of several high-level security dialogues between Washington and Tehran, as well as increased scrutiny of bilateral intelligence-sharing agreements in Baghdad.

The arrest of a senior figure like Al-Saadi suggests a continued focus by U.S. authorities on dismantling the group’s ability to project power beyond Iraqi borders.