Iran and allied proxy groups could mount retaliatory attacks against the United States following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a US intelligence assessment reviewed by Reuters.
The February 28 threat assessment, prepared by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis, said Iran and its proxies “probably” pose a continuing risk of targeted attacks inside the United States, though a large-scale physical assault is considered unlikely.
The report warned that, in the immediate term, the primary concern is cyber retaliation by Iran-aligned “hacktivists.” These could include low-level but disruptive operations such as website defacements and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against US networks.
“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 assessment said.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she is coordinating closely with federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies. “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,” she said in a statement.
Iran on Sunday confirmed Khamenei’s death in a strike carried out on Saturday, initially announced by Israel and US President Donald Trump.
The DHS assessment also said Tehran is likely to continue attacks on US and allied interests in the Middle East and would almost certainly blame senior US officials for any protests triggered by Trump’s remarks calling for regime change in Iran.
Meanwhile, the US-Israeli air campaign against Iran, launched Saturday, expanded on Monday. Israel struck targets in Lebanon in response to Hezbollah fire, while Iran continued missile and drone attacks on Gulf states hosting US military bases.
Separately, authorities probing a shooting at a bar in Austin, Texas, that left at least two people dead said it was too early to determine whether the suspect was motivated by the war in Iran. The gunman, who was shot dead by police, was seen in a photograph reviewed by Reuters wearing a shirt bearing the Iranian flag and the word “IRAN,” along with a sweatshirt reading “Property of Allah,” a US law enforcement official said.
With inputs from Reuters
