DHS issues warning bulletin

Following a U.S.-led drone attack that killed a ranking Iranian military commander last Jan. 2, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin last Saturday, warning of possible cyberattacks against the U.S. that is masterminded by Iran.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres assured that the CNMI government continues to monitor, in collaboration with federal partners, any and all threats to the U.S. homeland and in the Marianas.
The DHS National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin, which was updated Saturday, expires on Jan. 18 or earlier.

Acting Homeland Security secretary Chad F. Wolf issued the advisory in the wake of the U.S.-led airstrike in Iraq that killed the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, Qaseem Soleimani. The DHS bulletin states that the Iranian leadership and several violent extremist organizations have publicly stated they intend to retaliate against the United States.

The bulletin warns that “Iran maintains a robust cyber program and can execute cyberattacks against the United States. Iran is capable, at a minimum, of carrying out attacks with temporary disruptive effects against critical infrastructure in the United States.”

Although it says there is no information indicating a specific, credible threat to the United States at this time, it warned that “Iran and its partners…have demonstrated the intent and capability to conduct operations in the United States” and that “Iranian leadership and several affiliated violent extremist organizations publicly stated they intend to retaliate against the United States.”

The advisory also states that “Homegrown Violent Extremists could capitalize on the heightened tensions to launch individual attacks” and that “an attack in the homeland may come with little or no warning.”

Wolf, however, maintained that there is no specific, credible threat against the United States at present, and that the bulletin is to “reassure the American public, state and local governments, and private sector partners that the Department of Homeland Security is actively monitoring and preparing for any specific, credible threat, should one arise.”

When sought for comments, Torres said his administration constantly receives updates from the White House and DHS on the situation in the Middle East.

“The safety and security of every American and residents who call the Marianas home are primary priorities, and we will continue to join the rest of the nation in assessing potential threats to our islands and our homeland,” Torres added.

DHS assures the public that they are working with federal, state, local, and private sector partners to detect and defend against any threats, and will enhance security measures as necessary.

The United States designated Iran a “state sponsor of terrorism” in 1984 and accuses it of engaging in or directing “an array of violent and deadly acts against the United States and its citizens globally.” The United States designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a foreign terrorist organization on April 15, 2019, “for its direct involvement in terrorist plotting.”