IranDHS secretary expresses “concerns” over Iranian threats

Aftermath of attack on Israeli diplomat in India // Source: nowawrzesnia.pl

Following recent attacks on Israeli officials overseas thought to be perpetrated by Iran and its proxies, DHS secretary Janet Napolitano expressed her concern over potential threats from Iran to domestic targets.

Speaking before a House panel, Fox News reported, Napolitano said the potential for an Iranian attack is “a situation that bears watching.”

Napolitano added that DHS is “conducting a lot of outreach” to Jewish communities across the United States following the bomb attacks that targeted Israeli officials in India and Georgia as well as a botched attack in Thailand.

The DHS secretary took care to note that there was “no specific or credible threat against any organization or target in the United States,” but as a precautionary measure her department and the FBI were “constantly monitoring” the activities of Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based, Iranian-backed Muslim extremist organization.

An anonymous DHS official that spoke to Fox News, said there “has not been a change in [security] posture” as a result of events overseas.

As a safety precaution, Jewish groups in the United States will receive increased information from law enforcement officials. In addition next week Jewish groups are scheduled to meet with the FBI to receive a briefing on the latest threat assessments. The meeting had been scheduled for weeks, but in light of the recent attacks, the focus will likely shift to potential threats from Hezbollah and Iran, according to an FBI official.

The official, speaking to Fox News, said the briefing will focus in particular on a security bulletin sent out last week that concluded “recent events” and “recent heightened tensions with Iran” have not “significantly increased the threat” to Jewish personnel in the United States.

“Are our ears a little more perked up? Yes,” added another Fox News FBI source in New York, but in terms of operations, “the situation remains the same” and “nothing’s changed.”

In contrast, at the hearing Representative Peter King (R –New York), the chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, expressed his deep concern with the “pending or possible threat” from Iran and its proxies, adding that “the threat of Hezbollah seems to have emerged (now) more than” ever during the past decade.

As evidence King pointed to last year’s failed attempt to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States by Iranian operatives.

“Now with the increased tension in the Middle East, I believe that there is a growing, growing threat from Hezbollah.”

The increased concerns come amid heightening tensions between Iran and the west. Recently several Iranian nuclear scientists were assassinated and the attacks on Israeli personnel overseas were likely in retaliation. Furthermore this week Iran unveiled its latest advancements in its nuclear program, despite international sanctions.