Homeland Security warns of terrorist threats surrounding elections and war between Israel and Hamas

By Bethany Blankley (the center square)

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Threat Assessment 2025 warns that “the threat of terrorism in the homeland will remain high in the coming year.”

It is expected to remain high due to “a confluence of factors, including potential violent extremist responses to domestic sociopolitical developments – particularly the 2024 election cycle – and international events such as the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

“Lone perpetrators and small groups continue to pose the greatest threat. “Meanwhile, foreign terrorist organizations, including ISIS and Al Qaeda, maintain their continued intent to carry out or inspire attacks in the homeland,” DHS said Wednesday. announcement.

RELATED: Bombshell Report: ‘High Risk Non-Citizens’ Without IDs Flying Across the US

The report notes that DHS officials are “particularly concerned” about “domestic and foreign violent extremists” who will use the November US elections or the war between Israel and Hamas “to justify or encourage attacks at home.” Single perpetrators and small groups still pose the greatest threat, carrying out attacks with little to no warning.

“Meanwhile, foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) and their supporters will maintain their continued intent to carry out or inspire attacks at home.”

Looking to 2025, the threat of violence from U.S.-based violent extremists – including domestic violence extremists (DVEs) and homegrown violent extremists (HVEs) inspired by foreign terrorist organizations – will remain high, DHS says.

Between September 2023 and July 2024, DVEs carried out at least four attacks in the US; several were disrupted by law enforcement. There were two HVE attacks related to the war between Israel and Hamas, and law enforcement disrupted at least three HVE plots, DHS says.

It notes that DVEs have focused on a range of targets over the past year, while HVEs have focused on religious organizations.

“HAMAS’ terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent conflict between Israel and HAMAS and its regional allies, have galvanized violent extremists across the ideological spectrum to launch attacks on Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Arab communities in the United States promote,” the report said. notes.

The report was released after a Florida-based international rescue group warned Americans to remain vigilant in the likelihood that terrorist attacks could occur ahead of the Jewish holidays, ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack. against Israel, and the US elections in November, The Center Square reported.

RELATED: FEMA runs out of money for Hurricane Helene while spending hundreds of millions on migrants

The 46-page DHS assessment evaluated threats related to terrorism, “the increasing complexity straining the immigration system, transnational organized crime, proliferating cyber threats and geopolitical strategic competition.”

The DHS says the US “will face threats to public safety from state actors who use subversive tactics in an effort to influence and divide the American public and undermine confidence in our institutions,” including the People’s Republic of China ( PRC). It says the PRC is targeting “political dissidents and journalists in the United States to silence and harass critical voices, violating our sovereignty and the rule of law.”

It notes that the 2024 election cycle “will be an attractive target for many opponents.”

Former President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has so far been hacked by Iranian actors, and three assassination attempts have been thwarted, including by a Pakistani man with ties to Iran. He was also recently informed of an Iranian assassination plot.

DHS said some domestic violent extremists may have identified targets for violence with the aim of “sowing fear among voters, candidates, and election workers, and disrupting election processes leading up to and following the November elections.” Nation-state-oriented foreign malign influence actors will almost certainly continue to target democratic processes with the aim of influencing the preferences of American voters, exacerbating social tensions, and undermining confidence in our democratic institutions and the integrity of the electoral process.”

RELATED: Inspector General Finds Litany of Homeland Security Failures Under Biden-Harris

It also notes that U.S. adversaries “will almost certainly continue to threaten the integrity of our critical infrastructure with disruptive and destructive cyber and physical attacks,” including by the People’s Republic of China, Russia and Iran. These countries “will remain the most pressing foreign threats to our critical infrastructure,” the report said, adding that DHS expects the PRC “will continue its efforts to prepare U.S. networks for potential cyberattacks in the event of a conflict with China.” the United States.”

DHS warns that China will likely remain “our greatest threat to economic security due to its aggressive use of anti-competitive, coercive policies and theft of U.S. intellectual property, technology and trade secrets” and that supply chains will remain vulnerable to foreign manipulation abroad.

The report was also released after the US House Committee on Oversight summoned DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for information regarding Democratic vice presidential candidate Governor Tim Walz’s alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Syndicated with permission from The Center Square.