Florida hit by terrorist threat against retired commanders
While officials declined to identify the terrorist group or country of origin behind the threat, the warning was deemed serious enough to warrant a 'duty to warn' notification. Col. Allie Scott, a spokesperson for the command, told the New York Times that such notifications are not uncommon, and issued when there's credible information that retired service members could be in danger.
She declined to provide additional details, citing operational sensitivity. The warnings are usually issued when there is intelligence relating to a potential threat of intentional killing, serious bodily harm, or kidnapping, and when the cost to alerting those in danger is low.
The threat does not apply to active-duty special operations personnel, but they were advised to stay alert both on and off base, and to immediately report any suspicious behavior. The provost marshal, Col. Mark A. Katz, who signed the warning, urged current troops to inform any retired comrades living in Florida of the situation and to remain vigilant.
'We encourage all personnel to remain alert to their surroundings, both on and off post, and to report any suspicious activity to appropriate authorities,' says the alert. Florida is home to thousands of retired elite military personnel, many of whom settled there after serving with the Tampa-based US Special Operations Command (SOCOM). Pictured: Members assigned to U.S. Special Operations Command execute a simulated rescue mission during a Special Operations Forces (SOF) demonstration in Downtown Tampa, Florida, May 18, 2022.
That was the nerve center for missions against ISIS, Al-Qaeda and other terror networks in the Middle East. US commandos have played a key role in clandestine raids, drone strikes, and counterterror operations in Iraq and Syria for decades, often anonymously, due to fears of retaliation.
The Pentagon has long acknowledged the possibility of foreign actors or jihadist networks seeking revenge against American forces — even on US soil. Andrew Sullivan, the executive director of No One Left Behind, a non-profit that supports locals who assisted America's War on Terror, said ex-service members faced 'urgent and dire' dangers.
'The terrorist threat emanating from Syria is so strong that some retired American veterans in Florida are at risk of reprisal because of their service in Syria or Iraq,' Sullivan posted on social media. The nature of this latest threat remains unclear, but the warning has raised eyebrows in security circles and renewed concerns about the long arm of extremist groups seeking payback for US military campaigns abroad. Military sources say anyone connected to past operations — whether officers, contractors, or retired advisors — should now be on high alert. For those who served in the shadows, the war may not be over.
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