A new report claims that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is increasing its monitoring of Iran-backed operatives in the United States amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran in the Middle East. The report comes as President Donald Trump confirmed that he will make a decision regarding whether to join Israel’s strikes against Iran “within the next two weeks.”
According to Fox News, a senior law enforcement source confirmed that the FBI is increasing the agency’s monitoring of Iran-backed operatives in the United States. The confirmation from the anonymous senior law enforcement source comes after CBS News reported on Thursday that multiple sources told the outlet that the FBI was expanding surveillance on Iran-backed operatives, including potential “sleeper cells” that are connected to the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist organization.
“As President Trump is contemplating potential U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, law enforcement officials have stepped up surveillance of Iran-backed operatives in the US, sources tell @CBSNews,” CBS News correspondent Jennifer Jacobs said in a post on social media. “FBI’s Kash Patel has increased efforts to monitor possible domestic sleeper cells linked to Hezbollah since Israel’s offensive began earlier this month, sources told me. Both the White House and FBI declined to comment.”
According to The Times of Israel, Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon, has been warned by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz not to join Iran in its conflict with Israel.
READ MORE: Iran warns of ‘all-out war’ if US joins Israeli strikes
In a statement obtained by The Times of Israel, Katz said, “I suggest that the Lebanese proxy be careful, and understand that Israel has lost patience with the terrorists who threaten it.” Katz added, “The Hezbollah leader hasn’t learned from his predecessors and is threatening to act against Israel.”
According to Newsmax, U.S. intelligence officials have expressed concerns regarding Iran’s attempts to target U.S. officials, including the 47th president, since Trump ordered former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force Gen. Qasem Soleimani’s death in January of 2020.
In a Thursday video posted on X, formerly Twitter, by the White House, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared a direct message from the president regarding the potential for the United States to become more involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Sharing a quote from Trump, Leavitt said, “Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.”
