As tensions with Iran grow, the US has warned its citizens about a higher risk of danger inside country. The warning, from the US Department of Homeland Security, came a day after the US military attacked three important nuclear sites Iran.
The alert said that the ongoing conflict could lead to cyberattacks, acts of revenge, or violence from extremists within the country.
DHS Warns of Increased Threats in US Amid Iran Conflict
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has warned that the conflict with Iran is increasing the risk of threats inside the country. In a new bulletin, the agency said:
“The ongoing Iran conflict is causing a heightened threat environment in the United States. Low-level cyber attacks against US networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists are likely, and cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct attacks against US networks,” the DHS bulletin said.
The bulletin also said Iran still wants to target US officials it blames for the killing of one of its top military commanders in January 2020. It warned that:
“The likelihood of violent extremists in the Homeland independently mobilizing to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the Homeland. Multiple recent Homeland terrorist attacks have been motivated by anti-Semitic or anti-Israel sentiment, and the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could contribute to US-based individuals plotting additional attacks,” the agency added.
US-Iran Conflict Sparks Fears of Cyber and Physical Attacks
The warning comes after a major escalation in the Middle East over the weekend. The United States and Israel carried out a large joint attack on Iran’s nuclear sites, the biggest Western military action against Iran since its 1979 revolution. In response, Iran fired many missiles at Israel, injuring dozens in Tel Aviv and raising fears of a bigger war in the region and beyond.
The DHS said the ongoing conflict, along with Iran’s past threats and anger toward the US, has greatly increased the chances of cyberattacks and physical violence in the United States.
US Warns of Potential Iran-Inspired Attacks at Home
US officials are also warning that violent extremists or people influenced by Iran’s messages could carry out attacks inside the country on their own. The DHS bulletin says the risk of such violence would go up if Iran’s Supreme Leader issued a fatwa calling for revenge against US targets.
“US law enforcement has disrupted multiple potentially lethal Iranian-backed plots in the United States since 2020. During this timeframe, the Iranian government has also unsuccessfully targeted critics of its regime who are based in the Homeland for lethal attack. If Iranian leadership were to issue a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against specific targets in the Homeland, it could increase the likelihood that a supporter of the Iranian regime is inspired to commit an act of violence in the Homeland,” the advisory said.
Amid the increased threats, DHS is asking the public to stay alert and report anything suspicious through the “If You See Something, Say Something” program.
