DAILY-FARSI-HE SOURCES
[61759] Arrest of Kata'ib Hezbollah official: US claims to have thwarted global terror infrastructure
US law enforcement authorities have arrested Mohammed Baqir al-Saadi, a senior official in the Iran-backed organization, on suspicion of planning dozens of terrorist acts against Western interests.
Dramatic arrest: Kata'ib Hezbollah official accused of planning global terror attacks
The US Department of Justice announced today, May 16, 2026, that Mohammed Baqir Saad Daoud al-Saadi, a senior official in the Iraqi terrorist organization 'Kata'ib Hezbollah', was arrested in Turkey and transferred to the US to stand trial. According to a report by DW Persian, al-Saadi is charged with six counts related to terrorism, including involvement in or assistance with 20 attempted attacks against American and Israeli interests in Europe, Canada, and within the US.
Various sources, including Khabar-e Fouri Jang and Akharin Khabar, emphasize that federal prosecutors in Manhattan attribute a direct link between the detainee and Iran's 'Revolutionary Guards'. According to the report in Kurdistan 24 Persian, the defendant planned retaliatory actions in response to the eliminations of Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Court documents, as cited in Payam-e Iran, even indicate that the targets included New York, California, and Arizona.
At the same time, heavy political pressure is being exerted on Iraq. Fars International, a channel identified with the conservative and anti-American line in Iran, reports that political figures in Baghdad are warning against "American interference in ministerial appointments" and that the Israeli press, specifically 'The Jerusalem Post' (mentioned as 'The Times of Israel' in the source), is setting an ultimatum for the new government in Baghdad to sever the influence of pro-Iranian militias.
The reports highlight the complexity of the Iraqi arena, where while the West defines Kata'ib Hezbollah as a terrorist organization operated by the Quds Force, local elements cited in Fars International claim that American pressure constitutes a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and is an attempt to engineer the new government in favor of Washington's interests.