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World
The recent detention of Iraqi militia leader Baqir al-Saadi in the United States has unveiled the extensive reach of Iran-backed networks operating within the US and Europe. Accused of orchestrating multiple attacks targeting Western interests, al-Saadi’s arrest highlights Tehran’s expanding influence beyond the Middle East.
US authorities recently apprehended Baqir al-Saadi, a prominent Iraqi militia commander aligned with Iran, revealing the depth of Tehran’s infiltration into Western territories. His arrest has brought to light a sophisticated network operating across the United States, Canada, and Europe, raising concerns about the growing power of Iran’s transnational proxies.
Al-Saadi is recognized not merely as a militia member but as a leading figure within Iraq’s Kata’ib Hezbollah, a key Iranian proxy group. Reports indicate he previously operated within a network closely linked to Qassem Soleimani, the late commander of Iran’s Quds Force, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy head of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, both killed in a US strike in early 2020.
The indictment filed in a federal court in New York accuses al-Saadi of involvement in approximately 20 attacks or attempted attacks targeting Western sites. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) alleges that after his detention in Turkey and subsequent extradition, al-Saadi orchestrated a series of 18 assaults across Europe during the first quarter of 2026.
Investigations uncovered footage from early April showing al-Saadi directing an undercover American agent to carry out attacks against a Jewish synagogue in New York and other Jewish institutions in Los Angeles and Arizona. This evidence points to a direct operational command over violent acts targeting Jewish communities in the United States.
US authorities have linked al-Saadi to a clandestine Iran-backed organization known as the "Right-Owners Movement," believed to be a new operational wing established by Tehran. This group reportedly emerged as a response to prior military strikes by the US and Israel against Iranian interests.
The network’s activities demonstrate a bold geographic scope, including an attack on an American bank in Amsterdam in mid-March, arson at a synagogue in North Macedonia in April, and a stabbing targeting Jews in London later that month. The group is also suspected of orchestrating bombings and deliberate fires at Jewish sites in Belgium and the Netherlands.
This unfolding scenario underscores the significant threat Iran poses to European security through its proxy networks. While the European Union recently designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity, the United Kingdom maintains a more cautious stance. In late March, the British Foreign Office summoned the Iranian ambassador over espionage allegations involving Jewish institutions but has yet to fully classify the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization.
Meanwhile, US lawmakers have urged the British government to adopt a firmer position against Tehran. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged during a late April visit to a London synagogue—recently targeted in an attack—to introduce legislation banning the Right-Owners Movement, aiming to ensure the safety of the Jewish community.
Al-Saadi’s arrest intensifies Western apprehensions regarding Iran’s threat to sovereignty and security. Tehran’s ongoing development of its ballistic missile program has extended its reach, now capable of striking significant parts of Europe.
Security assessments highlight a missile test linked to Iran near the British-American base at Diego Garcia in late March, demonstrating an operational range of approximately 3,800 kilometers. This capability places major European capitals—including London, Paris, and Rome—within direct threat zones.
