FBI Director Christopher Wray, in a recent address to Congress, issued a stark warning. Wray cautioned that the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas could potentially spur Hamas and other terrorist organizations to launch attacks within the United States.

“In a year where the terrorism threat was already elevated, the ongoing war in the Middle East has raised the threat of an attack against Americans in the United States to a whole other level,” Wray solemnly stated.

Since October 7, there has been a chilling call to arms from a host of foreign terrorist organizations against Americans and our allies. Hezbollah has openly expressed its support for Hamas and threatened to attack U.S. interests in the Middle East. Al Qaeda, not to be outdone, issued its most specific call to attack the United States in the past five years. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has called on jihadists to attack Americans and Jewish people everywhere. ISIS has even urged its followers to target Jewish communities in the United States and Europe.

“Our most immediate concern is that individuals or small groups will draw twisted inspiration from the events in the Middle East to carry out attacks here at home,” Wray warned. He also added that the possibility of Hamas and other foreign terrorist organizations exploiting the current conflict to launch attacks on U.S. soil cannot be discounted.

While the FBI has kept a close watch on Hamas and has multiple ongoing investigations into individuals affiliated with the terrorist organization, Wray noted that Iran and other Islamist terror groups pose a significant threat as well. Iran, he said, is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism and has attempted assassinations against dissidents and high-ranking U.S. officials, including on American soil.

Hezbollah, Iran’s primary strategic partner, has a history of raising funds and seeking weapons within the United States. “FBI arrests in recent years also indicate Hezbollah has tried to seed operatives, establish infrastructure and engage in spying here domestically, raising our concern that they may be contingency planning for future operations in the United States,” Wray pointed out.

While there is no current tracking of a specific plot, the FBI remains vigilant, closely monitoring the potential impact of recent events on terrorist groups’ intentions within the United States. This serves as a somber reminder of the importance of national security and the constant threat that looms over our nation.