U.S. braces for heightened threats in wake of Iran strikes

Axios

4 hours ago

Travel disruptions, cyber attacks, demonstrations and heightened security presence are likely following attacks on Iran, U.S. officials have warned.
The big picture: The weekend airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities by the U.S. — dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer — marked a historic escalation in the Middle East that Tehran has framed as a betrayal of diplomacy.
How and when Iran will respond to the attack, which could provoke retaliation against U.S. troops in the region or prompt trade disruptions, remains unclear.
Driving the news: The Department of Homeland Security said in a Sunday advisory that the ongoing conflict is creating a "heightened threat environment" in the U.S.
Low-level cyber attacks from pro-Iranian hacktivists against U.S. networks are likely, and attacks from state-affiliated actors could occur, the bulletin warned.
DHS predicted the likelihood of violent extremists "in the Homeland independently mobilizing" would increase if Iran issued a "religious ruling" calling for retaliatory violence.
Since the start of the conflict, the DHS memo read, several foreign terrorist organizations have called for violence against U.S. assets and personnel in the Middle East.
Zoom out: The State Department also issued a "Worldwide Caution" alert warning of the "potential for demonstrations against U.S. citizens and interests abroad."
And several major cities, including the nation's capital, said they'd step up security in sensitive areas, including places of worship.
DHS and FBI officials discussed with some governors and law enforcement on Sunday how the strikes could escalate the threat environment, multiple outlets reported.
Threat level: Iranian UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani blasted the attacks at an emergency Security Council meeting, where he said that Iran's armed forces will determine the" timing, nature and scale" of its response.