The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reissued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) bulletin after a lethal U.S. strike killed Iranian IRGC-Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani on January 2, 2020 while Soleimani was in Iraq.
The NTAS advisory issued on January 4, 2020 summarizes the terrorism threat to the U.S. Homeland, along with instructions on how you can help, be prepared and stay informed.
“The United States designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a Foreign Terrorist Organization on April 15, 2019 for its direct involvement in terrorist plotting,” DHS wrote in the advisory.
In addition, DHS warned that terrorists have been known to scout, plan and launch cyber attacks against infrastructure targets and other targets in the U.S.
“Iran maintains a robust cyber program and can execute cyber attacks against the United
States. Iran is capable, at a minimum, of carrying out attacks with temporary disruptive
effects against critical infrastructure in the United States,” DHS warned.
Although the threat is elevated, DHS added “at this time there is no specific, credible threat against the homeland.”
However, DHS cautioned that violet extremists could also capitalize on these heightened tensions. As a result, attacks could come with little or no warning.
DHS also provided guidance to report suspicious activity or information about a threat to law enforcement. See DHS guidance on how to recognize signs of pre-operational planning associated with terrorism or other criminal activity.