'We are at a state of war': NYC mayor's Iran warning as Homeland Security braces for attacks on U.S. soil - and sleeper terror cells could already be here

  • The killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, on Friday marks a major escalation in the standoff between the U.S. and Iran 
  • Major cities, including New York and Los Angeles, have already said they are stepping up security to prevent any revenge attacks
  • It comes amid fears that the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group may have sleeper cells in the U.S. that are ready to retaliate
  • Former CIA operations officer, Sam Faddis, warned that Hezbollah sleeper cells were hiding in the U.S. and potentially had targets in its sights 

The U.S. is on heightened alert after Iran vowed 'harsh retaliation' for an American airstrike in Iraq and that killed a top Iranian general - as it is feared that sleeper cells may be ready to attack in major cities. 

The killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, on Friday marks a major escalation in the standoff between the U.S. and Iran.

Major cities, including New York and Los Angeles, have already said they are stepping up security in the aftermath of the airstrikes to prevent any revenge attacks. 

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio said they would be protecting key locations from 'any attempt by Iran or its terrorist allies to retaliate against the U.S.' 

'We have to assume this action puts us in a de facto state of war,' he told a press conference on Friday.

It comes amid fears that the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, which has been designated by the U.S. government as a foreign terrorist organization, may have sleeper cells in the U.S. that are ready to retaliate. 

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Major cities, including New York and Los Angeles, have already said they are stepping up security in the aftermath of the airstrikes to prevent any revenge attacks

Major cities, including New York and Los Angeles, have said they are stepping up security in the aftermath of the airstrikes to prevent any revenge attacks. Pictured above officers stand guard at Times Square Friday

NYPD patrols stand guard at Times Square on Friday. The NYPD will take actions to protect the city and residents against any possible retaliation after the deadly US airstrike in Iraq, Mayor Bill de Blasio said

NYPD patrols stand guard at Times Square on Friday. The NYPD will take actions to protect the city and residents against any possible retaliation after the deadly US airstrike in Iraq, Mayor Bill de Blasio said

Major cities are on heightened alert amid fears that the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group may have sleeper cells in the U.S. that are ready to retaliate. Member of Hezbollah are pictured setting fire to the U.S embassy in Baghdad on New Year's Day

Major cities are on heightened alert amid fears that the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group may have sleeper cells in the U.S. that are ready to retaliate. Member of Hezbollah are pictured setting fire to the U.S embassy in Baghdad on New Year's Day

Former CIA operations officer, Sam Faddis, warned that Hezbollah sleeper cells were hiding in the U.S. and potentially had targets in its sights. 

'It is more than possible that Hezbollah has sleeper cells in the United States ready to strike,' Faddis told DailyMail.com.

'Based on what we know we must assume they do and that they can hit targets on U.S. soil at anytime without warning.' 

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has already warned that 'harsh retaliation is waiting' for America following the airstrikes.  

'No one has to be reminded that New York City is the number one terror target in the United States. We have to recognize that this creates a whole series of dangerous possibilities for our city,' de Blasio said.

'We have plenty of knowledge of previous efforts by Iranian proxies to scout and target locations in New York City. Hezbollah and others have made it a point in recent years... We know there's been an effort to target and prepare to attack in New York City in the past.'  

The mayor said the threat has changed significantly given the resources that a state such as Iran has compared to non-state organizations like Al Qaeda or ISIS.

'It's just a world of difference,' de Blasio said. 

In a series of tweets later on Friday, de Blasio added: 'We are in an unprecedented situation today, but the NYPD is ready for any scenario. New Yorkers will see heightened security at locations around the city, but there is NO credible and specific threat at this time. If you see something, say something. 

'The NYPD has a strong relationship with our security and intelligence partners around the country and the world. They will be working together non-stop to keep New Yorkers safe, and I have absolute faith in them. Everyone should go about their lives unafraid.

'The United States should not go to war with Iran. We are in completely uncharted territory, and no one knows what the consequences of this attack will be in the coming weeks, months and years. This decision can ONLY be made by Congress, speaking for the American people.' 

 

NYPD counterterrorism officers stand guard at Times Square on Friday

NYPD counterterrorism officers stand guard at Times Square on Friday

De Blasio told a press conference Friday: 'We have to assume this action puts us in a de facto state of war.' Police are seen in Times Square on Friday

De Blasio told a press conference Friday: 'We have to assume this action puts us in a de facto state of war.' Police are seen in Times Square on Friday

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea confirmed additional resources had been deployed. 

'The NYPD continues to closely monitor the events in Iran & across the region for any further developments. While there are no specific/credible threats to #NYC, we've deployed additional resources to key locations,' Shea said. 

He said New Yorkers could expect to see more uniformed officers, some heavily armed with long guns, at sensitive areas. He did not specify what those were but a heavy police presence is typically seen on the subway, other mass transit, and tourist attractions.

The Los Angeles Police Department said that while there was currently no credible threat to the city, they were monitoring developments in Iran and were committed to ensuring safety.

Just last month, New Yorker Ali Kourani was sentenced to 40 years in prison after he was convicted of providing material support to Hezbollah by seeking targets in New York City for terrorist attacks

Just last month, New Yorker Ali Kourani was sentenced to 40 years in prison after he was convicted of providing material support to Hezbollah by seeking targets in New York City for terrorist attacks

Just last month, a New Yorker was sentenced to 40 years in prison after he was convicted of providing material support to Hezbollah by seeking targets in New York City for terrorist attacks. 

Ali Kourani, 34, was arrested in 2017 on charges he sought to support Hezbollah's Islamic Jihad organization. 

Kourani was monitoring terrorism targets in New York City, including Kennedy International Airport and law enforcement facilities including the building housing the FBI, authorities said. 

Authorities said Kourani, who was born in Lebanon but moved legally to the U.S. in 2003, received sophisticated military training overseas at least twice. 

He was trained in the use of a rocket propelled grenade.  

A New Jersey man was charged in September of conducting intelligence-gathering operations for Hezbollah including in Times Square, Boston's Fenway Park and The Capitol building in Washington D.C. 

Alexei Saab, 42, - who was arrested in July - is said to have provided detailed information on various locations to Hezbollah, including photographs and their structural weaknesses. 

John Miller, Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism for the NYPD and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (left) held a press conference Friday where they said NYC is the number one target

John Miller, Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism for the NYPD and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (left) held a press conference Friday where they said NYC is the number one target

A New Jersey man was charged in September of conducting intelligence-gathering operations for Hezbollah including in Times Square, Boston's Fenway Park and The Capitol building in Washington D.C.

A New Jersey man was charged in September of conducting intelligence-gathering operations for Hezbollah including in Times Square, Boston's Fenway Park and The Capitol building in Washington D.C. 

Alexei Saab, 42, - who was arrested in July - is said to have provided detailed information on various locations to Hezbollah, including photographs and their structural weaknesses

Alexei Saab, 42, - who was arrested in July - is said to have provided detailed information on various locations to Hezbollah, including photographs and their structural weaknesses 

Locations including the United Nations headquarters, the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, the Empire State Building, and local airports, tunnels, and bridges are said to have been under his surveillance.  

Speaking about these two specific arrests, NYPD Deputy Commissioner John Miller said authorities were well prepared in New York to thwart any attacks. 

'As we have pointed out... this is not a scenario we started thinking about last night. We are well prepared,' he said. 

The killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, on Friday marks a major escalation in the standoff between the U.S. and Iran

The killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, on Friday marks a major escalation in the standoff between the U.S. and Iran

'We have had marked success in New York in identifying these sleepers agents and rolling them up. 

Following the airstrikes, Brian Katulis - a senior fellow on national security at the Center for American Progress - warned that it was important to watch the global terror network Iran has cultivated in recent years. 

'U.S. agencies have kept Americans and the U.S. homeland safe in recent years from the threats posed by a wide range of terrorist networks, including those supported by Iran. But now the real test comes,' he said. 

'The lack of a clear U.S. strategy for the Middle East has hindered America's ability to confront Iran's support for terrorism - one strike won't change that. 

'Keep an eye on the unwatched pots - those tend to boil over in unexpected ways at unexpected times.' 

Katulis has previously testified before Congress on Iran's terrorism network. During his 2018 testimony, Katulis said there was evidence Hezbollah had made efforts to establish sleeper cells in America. 

'These limited incidents demonstrate a possible effort by Hezbollah to prepare for contingencies in which the terrorist movement might want to conduct attacks against U.S. interests and even the U.S. homeland,' he said.  

A US airstrike on Baghdad airport killed Soleimani, the head of Iran's powerful Quds force. Pictured is the burning remains of the car that was among a convoy he was traveling in

A US airstrike on Baghdad airport killed Soleimani, the head of Iran's powerful Quds force. Pictured is the burning remains of the car that was among a convoy he was traveling in 

 

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