DHS Warns of "Heightened Threat Environment" in US Amid Iran Conflict

 Monday, June 23, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin, warning of a "heightened threat environment" across the United States in the wake of direct American military involvement in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

Issued by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on Sunday, June 22, the bulletin underscores the potential for a range of domestic security threats, from cyberattacks to physical violence, though it clarifies there are currently no specific, credible threats against the homeland.

"It is our duty to keep the nation safe and informed, especially during times of conflict," said Secretary Noem in a statement. "The ongoing Israel-Iran conflict brings the possibility of increased threat to the homeland in the form of possible cyberattacks, acts of violence, and antisemitic hate crimes."

Key Warnings from the DHS Bulletin:

• Cyber Threats: The bulletin highlights the likely threat of "low-level cyber attacks against US networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists." More significantly, it warns that "cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct attacks against US networks." DHS's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has urged organizations to adopt robust cybersecurity practices and report any suspicious digital activity.
  • Context: Iran maintains a robust cyber program, and both hacktivists and state-affiliated actors have a history of targeting poorly secured US networks and internet-connected devices for disruptive cyberattacks.
• Violent Extremism and Hate Crimes: The bulletin cautions that the conflict could motivate violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators seeking to attack targets perceived to be Jewish, pro-Israel, or linked to the US government or military in the Homeland.
  • Context: US law enforcement has disrupted multiple potentially lethal Iranian-backed plots in the United States since 2020. The bulletin explicitly states that the likelihood of violent extremists independently mobilizing to violence would "likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the Homeland." Multiple recent domestic terrorist attacks have also been motivated by anti-Semitic or anti-Israel sentiment.
• Targeting US Officials: DHS noted Iran's "long-standing commitment to target US Government officials it views as responsible for the death of an Iranian military commander killed in January 2020," referring to Qassem Soleimani.

The NTAS Bulletin, which is set to expire on September 22, 2025, is part of a broader effort to inform the public about evolving threats and provide resources for staying safe. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, for instance, announced that all State agencies and critical infrastructure facilities in New York are on high alert, activating counterterrorism protections in response to the federal warning.

While the bulletin emphasizes there are no immediate specific threats, it urges the public to remain vigilant, report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement, FBI Field Offices, or local Fusion Centers, and utilize resources like the "If You See Something, Say Something®" initiative.

The issuance of this bulletin underscores the ripple effects of the direct US military intervention in Iran, indicating that the consequences of the escalating conflict are now actively being prepared for on American soil.