Intelligence assessment warns of Iranian attacks on the US following Khamenei’s death
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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is seen on a billboard in Tehran on March 2, a day after his death was announced.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON - Iran and its proxies could target the United States with attacks in response to the Feb 28 killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
The Feb 28 threat assessment produced by the Office of Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security said Iran and its proxies “probably” pose a threat of targeted attacks on the United States, although a large-scale physical attack was unlikely.
The report added that in the short term, the main concern was that Iran-aligned “hacktivists” would conduct low-level cyber attacks against US networks, such as website defacements and distributed denial-of-service attacks.
“Although a large-scale physical attack is unlikely, Iran and its proxies probably pose a persistent threat of targeted attacks in the Homeland, and will almost certainly escalate retaliatory actions - or calls to action - if reports of the Ayatollah’s death are confirmed,” the DHS report reviewed by Reuters said.
In response to a request for comment, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement: “I am in direct coordination with our federal intelligence and law enforcement partners as we continue to closely monitor and thwart any potential threats to the homeland.”
On March 1, Iran confirmed reports of Khamenei’s death in the Feb 28 strike. His death was initially announced by Israel and US President Donald Trump.
The DHS assessment also said Iran would probably continue its attacks against US and allied targets in the Middle East and would almost certainly blame senior US government officials for any protests that begin because of Mr Trump’s statement calling for regime change.
The US and Israeli air war against Iran that was launched on Feb 28 widened on March 2 as Israel attacked Lebanon in response to strikes by Hezbollah and Tehran kept up its missile and drone attacks on Gulf states that host US military bases.
On March 2, authorities investigating a shooting at a bar in Austin, Texas, a day earlier that killed at least two people said it was too early to say if the gunman was motivated by the war in Iran.
The body of the gunman, who was killed by police, was seen in a photo obtained by Reuters wearing a shirt with an Iranian flag and “IRAN” spelled out in green, white and red across the front.
He was also wearing a sweatshirt that said “Property of Allah” on it, a US law enforcement official told Reuters. REUTERS
