The U.S. is on heightened alert after Iran vowed ‘harsh retaliation’ for an American airstrike in Iraq and that killed a top Iranian general – as it is feared that sleeper cells may be ready to attack in major cities.
The killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, on Friday marks a major escalation in the standoff between the U.S. and Iran.
Major cities, including New York and Los Angeles, have already said they are stepping up security in the aftermath of the airstrikes to prevent any revenge attacks.
It comes amid fears that the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, which has been designated by the U.S. government as a foreign terrorist organization, may have sleeper cells in the U.S. that are ready to retaliate.
Major cities are on heightened alert amid fears that the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group may have sleeper cells in the U.S. that are ready to retaliate. Member of Hezbollah are pictured setting fire to the U.S embassy in Baghdad on New Year’s Day
Former CIA operations officer, Sam Faddis, warned that Hezbollah sleeper cells were hiding in the U.S. and potentially had targets in its sights.
‘It is more than possible that Hezbollah has sleeper cells in the United States ready to strike,’ Faddis told DailyMail.com.
‘Based on what we know we must assume they do and that they can hit targets on U.S. soil at anytime without warning.’
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has already warned that ‘harsh retaliation is waiting’ for America following the airstrikes.
It prompted authorities in New York City to take extra security measures with Mayor Bill de Blasio saying they would be protecting key locations from ‘any attempt by Iran or its terrorist allies to retaliate against the U.S.
‘No one has to be reminded that New York City is the number one terror target in the United States. We have to recognize that this creates a whole series of dangerous possibilities for our city,’ he said.
‘We have plenty of knowledge of previous efforts by Iranian proxies to scout and target locations in New York City. Hezbollah and others have made it a point in recent years… We know there’s been an effort to target and prepare to attack in New York City in the past.’
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea confirmed additional resources had been deployed.
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea confirmed additional resources had been deployed
‘The NYPD continues to closely monitor the events in Iran & across the region for any further developments. While there are no specific/credible threats to #NYC, we’ve deployed additional resources to key locations,’ Shea said.
Just last month, New Yorker Ali Kourani was sentenced to 40 years in prison after he was convicted of providing material support to Hezbollah by seeking targets in New York City for terrorist attacks
The Los Angeles Police Department said that while there was currently no credible threat to the city, they were monitoring developments in Iran and were committed to ensuring safety.
Just last month, a New Yorker was sentenced to 40 years in prison after he was convicted of providing material support to Hezbollah by seeking targets in New York City for terrorist attacks.
Ali Kourani, 34, was arrested in 2017 on charges he sought to support Hezbollah’s Islamic Jihad organization.
Kourani was monitoring terrorism targets in New York City, including Kennedy International Airport and law enforcement facilities including the building housing the FBI, authorities said.
Authorities said Kourani, who was born in Lebanon but moved legally to the U.S. in 2003, received sophisticated military training overseas at least twice.
He was trained in the use of a rocket propelled grenade.
A Michigan man was also arrested in 2017 and charged with traveling to Panama to conduct surveillance against Israeli targets and the Panama Canal.
A US airstrike on Baghdad airport killed Soleimani, the head of Iran’s powerful Quds force. Pictured is the burning remains of the car that was among a convoy he was traveling in
Following the airstrikes, Brian Katulis – a senior fellow on national security at the Center for American Progress – warned that it was important to watch the global terror network Iran has cultivated in recent years.
The killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, on Friday marks a major escalation in the standoff between the U.S. and Iran
‘U.S. agencies have kept Americans and the U.S. homeland safe in recent years from the threats posed by a wide range of terrorist networks, including those supported by Iran. But now the real test comes,’ he said.
‘The lack of a clear U.S. strategy for the Middle East has hindered America’s ability to confront Iran’s support for terrorism – one strike won’t change that.
‘Keep an eye on the unwatched pots – those tend to boil over in unexpected ways at unexpected times.’
Katulis has previously testified before Congress on Iran’s terrorism network. During his 2018 testimony, Katulis said there was evidence Hezbollah had made efforts to establish sleeper cells in America.
‘These limited incidents demonstrate a possible effort by Hezbollah to prepare for contingencies in which the terrorist movement might want to conduct attacks against U.S. interests and even the U.S. homeland,’ he said.
