Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, an Iraqi national accused of conspiring to plot at least 18 attacks across Europe in retaliation for the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran, pleaded not guilty on Monday in Manhattan federal court. The arraignment marks the entry of formal pleadings in a case that federal authorities link to broader regional hostilities.
The charges allege that Al-Saadi conspired to provide material support to Kata’ib Hizballah, an Iran-backed Iraqi Shia militant group, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. U.S. prosecutors did not detail the specific targets or methods planned for the European operations during Monday’s hearing.
Al-Saadi addressed the bench directly before the court recorded his formal response. “I’m not guilty in a war situation,” Al-Saadi responded, before adding through an Arabic translator: “I’m a prisoner of war. I’m not a threat. Children and women are being killed by your rockets.”
The defendant initially did not take his seat. Two U.S. marshals approached Al-Saadi at a judge’s urging, and one marshal placed a hand on his shoulder to guide him into his assigned chair. Court observers noted that Al-Saadi did not appear to be trying to be disruptive as he commented beyond his required response to the charges.
U.S. law enforcement agencies have monitored retaliatory threats linked to the Middle East conflict for several months. European security services have similarly reported increased concern regarding potential attacks tied to Iran-aligned networks.
Manhattan federal prosecutors have not released additional details regarding the timeline of U.S. investigative actions that led to Al-Saadi’s transfer to New York. The federal charges focus on the material support conspiracy rather than completed acts of violence within the United States.
Al-Saadi remains in federal custody pending further proceedings. The court did not set a trial date during Monday’s appearance.