Iran-Linked Commander Sought Singapore Visa, Security Report Reveals

Singaporean security services have revealed that a commander of the Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kata'ib Hezbollah, accused by U.S. authorities of planning attacks against Jewish targets in Europe, Canada, and the United States, repeatedly attempted to obtain a visa to enter Singapore. The information comes from the annual threat assessment report by Singapore's Internal Security Department (ISD).

Mohamed Bagher Saad Daoud Al-Saadi, currently in U.S. custody awaiting trial, applied for Singaporean visas in both 2023 and 2024. According to the ISD, he applied three times but never actually traveled to Singapore, and authorities stated he would have been denied entry if he had attempted to enter.

The ISD report suggests Al-Saadi likely traveled to other Southeast Asian countries during that period. The report does not rule out the possibility that his regional travel was linked to terrorist objectives, potentially targeting Singapore, including U.S. and Israeli interests located there. Singaporean intelligence agencies are cooperating with international partners to investigate his activities.

U.S. prosecutors charged Al-Saadi in May 2026, identifying him as a senior figure in Kata'ib Hezbollah, a group designated as a terrorist organization by Washington and linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The U.S. alleges he directed and encouraged attacks against American and Israeli targets and called for the killing of Americans and Jews in retaliation for military actions against Iran.

The ISD report also noted that the actions of the IRGC and affiliated armed groups have increased the terrorist threat beyond the Middle East, with regional conflicts potentially heightening risks for Southeast Asia. Al-Saadi was apprehended in Turkey and handed over to U.S. authorities, facing charges related to the planning of approximately 20 attacks and attempted attacks in Europe, the U.S., and Canada. Singaporean authorities emphasized their continued monitoring of potential threats from pro-Iranian groups.