Iran may have activated ‘sleeper cells’ to carry out attacks around the globe, US officials say

Iran may have activated 'sleeper cells' to carry out attacks around the world, US officials say The alert said "there is no operational threat linked to a specific location." - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments According to a report, Iran has potentially sent “an operational trigger” to activate “sleeper assets” around the world as the war with the United States and Israel escalates. The United States has intercepted encrypted communications believed to have originated in Iran and were sent following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in an attack between the United States and Israel on February 28, ABC News reported, citing a federal alert sent to law enforcement agencies. The message could “aim to activate or provide instructions to pre-positioned sleeper assets operating outside the home country,” the alert warned. The alert noted that the transmission was “probably of Iranian origin.” "Although the exact content of these broadcasts cannot currently be determined, the sudden appearance of a new station with international broadcast characteristics warrants increased situational awareness," the alert added. The alert warned that there is currently “no operational threat linked to a specific location.” The United States has asked law enforcement agencies to increase their monitoring of suspicious radio frequencies following the US interception of the encrypted message. Sleeper assets, also known as sleeper cells, are spies or terrorists hiding in other countries who often live quiet, unassuming lives until they are called upon to perform a mission. The United States stepped up its surveillance of Iranian sleeper cells last June after President Donald Trump ordered strikes on three major Iranian nuclear facilities. Fresh warnings about dormant assets were issued after the United States and Israel began carrying out military airstrikes against Iran on February 28. Dozens of Iranian officials, including the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were killed in the initial attacks. Iranian officials announced on Sunday that his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, would be his successor. The conflict has expanded across the Middle East, with Iran retaliating against Israel and US military bases and allies in the region. At least 10 countries have been targeted by Iran's retaliatory strikes and drone strikes, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. Iranian forces have also attacked US bases or intercepted assets in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon, according to the report. US and Israeli attacks on Iran have killed at least 1,230 people in the country, according to the Associated Press. Seven U.S. service members also died in the conflict. Trump said Monday that the US-Israeli campaign in Iran could end sooner than he previously expected. He told CBS News that he thought the war is “pretty much complete.” "They have no navy, no communications, no Air Force," he said. Trump added that the United States is now “a long way off” from the four- to five-week timeline he had previously given to end the conflict. Join our feedback forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other independent readers, and see their responses Comments