An Iraqi terror chief allegedly plotted to assassinate Ivanka Trump in retaliation for the 2020 drone strike that killed Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, according to a report. Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, 32, reportedly vowed to kill the former first daughter and possessed a map of her $24 million Florida mansion, as detailed by the New York Post.
Alleged Plot Details
Al-Saadi, recently captured in Turkey, is accused of orchestrating a series of antisemitic attacks in Britain and planning at least 18 terrorist attacks across North America and Europe since February. Sources told the New York Post that he made a pledge to kill Ivanka Trump in revenge for Soleimani's death, which was ordered by then-President Donald Trump. Al-Saadi had a photo with Soleimani on his social media and previously promised to avenge his mentor.
In 2021, al-Saadi wrote: "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. And coming to Washington and Florida." Former Iraqi military diplomat Entifadh Qanbar stated, "After Qasem was killed, he went around telling people 'we need to kill Ivanka to burn down the house of Trump the way he burned down our house.'"
Social Media Threats
Al-Saadi posted a photo on X (formerly Twitter) showing a map of the home Ivanka shares with her husband Jared Kushner and their three children. The caption read: "I say to the Americans look at this picture and know that neither your palaces nor the Secret Service will protect you. We are currently in the stage of surveillance and analysis. I told you, our revenge is a matter of time." A second source confirmed to the Post that al-Saadi had plans to target Ivanka after Soleimani's killing.
Charges and Arrest
Al-Saadi faces charges of conspiracy to provide material support to Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (Hayi), an Iran-backed Iraqi Shia militant group, and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), both designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the US. He is also charged with conspiring to provide material support for acts of terrorism and conspiring to bomb a public place. His arrest was facilitated through phone calls with an FBI informant, to whom he provided photos and maps of Jewish centers in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Arizona, that he planned to target.
The complaint, unsealed in a federal court in Manhattan, accuses al-Saadi of involvement in a shooting at the US consulate in Toronto and firebombings in France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. The informant connected him to a purported Mexican cartel member and gun for hire. Al-Saadi offered the undercover agent $100,000 to attack a synagogue and demanded the attack be recorded.
Legal Proceedings
Al-Saadi was arrested in Turkey and transferred to the US. He reportedly smiled during his court appearance but did not speak. His lawyer claimed al-Saadi is a political prisoner and a prisoner of war, persecuted for his relationship with Soleimani. He did not enter a plea and remains in jail.
Terror Group Hayi
Al-Saadi allegedly posted claims of responsibility for attacks on Snapchat and Telegram under the name of Hayi. The group claimed responsibility for arson attacks, including an Israeli restaurant in Munich and a synagogue in Skopje, Macedonia. In the UK, a drone bearing the group's logo was flown toward the Israeli embassy. Investigators found that Hayi's social media posts appeared before some attacks, suggesting the author was close to the organizer or the same person. Security services report that Iran has used criminal networks to recruit operatives.
FBI Director Kash Patel described al-Saadi as a "high-value target responsible for mass global terrorism" and praised the agency's efforts. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated the case highlights global threats from the Iranian regime and its proxies.
