© 2026 ABC News

The nation's capital, Washington, D.C., is also on alert.

\"While there are no immediate threats to the District of Columbia, we remain vigilant and [Metropolitan Police Department] & [DC Emergency Management and Homeland Security] will remain in close contact with regional and federal partners to monitor evolving events — both at home and abroad. As always, we remind members of the public if they see something, say something by contacting law enforcement of any suspicious activity,\" Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a statement.

The heightened state of alert comes as Iran is warning of action for the U.S. killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described Soleimani as the \"international face of resistance\" and announced three days of public mourning for his assassination.

\"A vigorous vengeance awaits those whose hands are tainted with his blood,\" Khamenei said in a statement.

In particular, counterterrorism units are on alert for attacks from Hezbollah, an organization the Department of Justice describes as \"a Lebanon-based Shia Islamic organization with political, social, and terrorist components\" that \"was founded in the 1980s with support from Iran after the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon.\"

\"They're very, very prolific and have been for decades,\" Bryan Paarmann, a former special agent in charge of the counterterrorism division at the FBI's New York Field Office and current Senior Vice President at Brosnan Risk Consultants, told ABC News. \"Prior to 9/11 and the rise of al-Qaida, Hezbollah killed more Americans than any other terrorist group out there.\"

\"PHOTO:
Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images
PHOTO: NYPD counterterrorism officers stand guard in New York on Jan. 3, 2020.
>

In September, a naturalized American citizen living in New Jersey was indicted on charges he supported Hezbollah by scouting possible targets for an attack around New York City.

\"Hezbollah doesn't act like a typical foreign terrorist organization,\" Paarmann said. \"They're much more like an organized intelligence or military operation.\"

\"Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel,\" Pres. Trump says. \"But we caught him in the act and terminated him.\" https://t.co/Scq2lYdBcu pic.twitter.com/caw0rdKaj7

— ABC News (@ABC) January 3, 2020

But cyber experts say a more pertinent threat may be virtual rather than physical.

\"Iran is an intelligent cyber opponent with an army of people testing our systems every minute of every day. It is the ultimate game of cat and mouse. But in this instance, the consequences could be lasting,\" Sam Curry, Chief Security Officer for Cybereason, told ABC News. \"Cyber is not only the poor man's nuke for asymmetric warfare, but it is also a valid domain for causing damage all by itself.\"

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the cyber arm of the DHS, is aware of potential threats.

Given recent developments, re-upping our statement from the summer.

Bottom line: time to brush up on Iranian TTPs and pay close attention to your critical systems, particularly ICS. Make sure you’re also watching third party accesses! https://t.co/4G1P0WvjhS

— Chris Krebs (@CISAKrebs) January 3, 2020

CISA Director Chris Krebs shared on Twitter a statement released in June that said, in part: \"CISA is aware of a recent rise in malicious cyber activity directed at United States industries and government agencies by Iranian regime actors and proxies. We will continue to work with our intelligence community and cybersecurity partners to monitor Iranian cyber activity, share information, and take steps to keep America and our allies safe.\"

Paarmann said that financial institutions and communication entities specifically should be on alert. In 2016, the Justice Department charged seven Iranian operatives with hacking multiple financial institutions like J.P. Morgan, Wells Fargo and American Express causing millions of dollars of damage. They also attempted to shut down a New York state dam.

A utility company source told ABC News there were ongoing conversations between government entities and critical infrastructure companies, as well as among critical infrastructure companies, to touch base regarding the heightened security status and the need for the vigilance in the wake of the killing.

During any global event, the source said, there is a conversation between critical infrastructure partners to ensure the safety and security of information. Utility companies frequently talk to the DHS, FBI and other critical infrastructure organizations about ongoing threats.

ABC News' Jack Date and Mike Levine contributed to this report.

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