Senior officials from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security conducted urgent conference calls with governors and top law enforcement representatives across the nation this past Sunday, aiming to assess how recent U.S. missile strikes in Iran could escalate the already precarious threat landscape.
The discussions included a call involving hundreds of local law enforcement personnel, as well as a separate briefing for state governors and their staff.
During these calls, an FBI official emphasized that the agency would enhance its operational posture in response to the military actions taken against Iran, recognizing the necessity for increased monitoring and intelligence gathering.
While there is presently no specific intelligence suggesting an immediate threat to the U.S. homeland, officials stressed the importance of vigilance in light of the recent military events.
The governors were particularly encouraged to coordinate with relevant state agencies and infrastructure partners, keeping an eye out for any potential risks that may arise, especially directed towards Jewish institutions or groups linked with Israel.
Federal officials specifically alerted both governors and law enforcement about the heightened risk of cyber activity following the missile strikes, advising them to maintain close communication with private sector partners and other organizations potentially vulnerable to such threats.
A representative from the Secure Community Network (SCN), which focuses on safeguarding Jewish institutions nationwide, was included in the law enforcement call. Michael Masters, the SCN’s national director, highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating that the U.S. government’s alignment with Israel’s military actions against Iran “opens up a new chapter for all of us.”
Masters indicated that Jewish organizations and leaders within the United States are at an “elevated risk” for retaliatory violence, revealing that in the immediate aftermath of the strikes, SCN recorded over 1,600 violent posts across social media platforms targeting the Jewish community, a number that continues to grow.
Concerns regarding Iran’s potential responses were voiced by Masters, who noted that historically the Iranian government has exhibited restraint in attacking the U.S. unless a significant ‘red line’ was crossed, which he argued has now been met.
Jim Dunlap, the Deputy Secretary for Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis, corroborated that the missile strikes elevate the threat level domestically.
He noted that while there presently have not been direct calls for violence against the U.S. from Iran, ongoing monitoring is paramount to catch any indications of an organized response from Iranian actors.
Dunlap stated that the capability for Iran to implement direct actions against the homeland may also be influenced by the perception of U.S. threats to its regime stability.
Additionally, he acknowledged that recent disruptions in law enforcement activities could hinder Iran’s immediate capacity to execute any planned plots within the U.S.
In light of these developments, Homeland Security has issued a public bulletin urging citizens to remain alert and report any suspicious activities, with Secretary Kristi Noem making it clear that the events in Iran could lead to heightened threats, including possible cyberattacks and antisemitic hate crimes.
Invitations to the calls were extended to all state governors, though not every governor was able to attend, leading to some staff members representing them in discussions about the current threat environment.
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