A group that has claimed responsibility for a series of arson attacks in London and across Europe has been exposed as an Iranian proxy by the United States. Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI) has claimed nearly 20 attacks targeting Jewish people and businesses, as well as American companies, including last month's stabbing in Golders Green, London.
Emergence of HAYI
HAYI first appeared on Telegram news channels linked to Iran-affiliated militant groups in early March. They made unsubstantiated claims of responsibility for an arson attack on four Jewish ambulances in Golders Green and another fire set outside a building connected to the Jewish Futures charity in north London.
US Department of Justice Allegations
Now, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) has alleged that HAYI is a front for Kata'ib Hezbollah, an Iraqi Shia paramilitary group that serves as a proxy for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The details emerged in a complaint filed in the Federal District Court in Manhattan against an alleged commander of the militia, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi. He is accused of planning at least 20 attacks against US and Israeli interests in Europe and Canada since late February.
The complaint states that HAYI emerged "almost immediately after the Iranian military conflict began." It adds that, "in an effort to portray itself as independent" from the IRGC or Hezbollah, "HAYI created its own logo and issued its own founding statement." However, the filing asserts that "both the logo and founding statement underscore that HAYI is merely a component of Kata'ib Hizballah."
The DoJ further claims: "Essentially overnight, HAYI was able to activate terrorist cells across Europe to carry out nearly 20 attacks in the weeks immediately following the start of the Iranian military conflict. In doing so, HAYI relied on using an already well-established media and ideological infrastructure."
Allegations Against al-Saadi
Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi is alleged to be a high-level member of the Iraqi militia with close ties to the IRGC and Hezbollah. He reportedly worked closely with Qasem Soleimani, Iran's most powerful military commander who was assassinated in 2020. The complaint claims al-Saadi was involved in planning, executing, and promoting attacks across Europe, including arson attacks on synagogues in Belgium and the Netherlands. The filings list the arson attacks on four Hatzalah ambulances, a synagogue, and a media organisation in London as claimed by HAYI, among others. Al-Saadi was allegedly heard on a telephone call saying he was "running multiple teams," which the DoJ said could refer to the European attacks.
