Today marks the beginning of the second week of Operation Epic Fury. Here’s a look at the latest developments. US Command say we control the skies over Iran…US Forces sank or damaged over 30 Iranian ships…Israel starts second front with heavy attacks on Lebanon…Iran targets 12 MidEast neighbors…Congress vote allows Epic Fury to continue…Travel warnings for Americans in MidEast

Sharyl: Lisa Fletcher reports on the concerns, and warnings, within our own borders.

The following is a transcript of a report from “Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson.”
Watch the video by clicking the link at the end of the page.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): Do you think the threat level against the United States is up or down when it comes to radical Islamic terrorists?

Former Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary: It’s up.

That testimony this week on Capitol Hill, from the former secretary of Homeland Secretary, as the US attacks against Iran increased, along with Israel striking in Lebanon, and the first attack in the United States being called an act of domestic terrorism.

Early last Sunday a suspect wearing a sweatshirt with the words ‘Property of Allah’ opened fire outside a popular bar in downtown Austin. Three people died. Over a dozen were wounded.

The concern now from Capitol Hill, to law enforcement, is how large, and how real, is the threat?

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA): The previous administration’s open border policy brought millions of people to this country. We don’t know everyone’s background or two intent for entering, but we know many of these had ill intent.

Lisa Fletcher: Given reports that nearly 1500 Iranians have illegally crossed the border in the last couple of years, and at least half of those were released into the United States. Does that raise a realistic concern here that there could be cells forming, sleeper cells forming?

Chad Wolf, Former Acting DHS Secretary: Look, during four years of President Biden, 18,000 known or suspected terrorists, not all of them were Iranians, but 18,000 tried to cross that border and a large majority of them made it across that border into the United States. And as you indicated, 1,500 of those Iranian nationals coming over.

Chad Wolf is former acting homeland security director during the first term of President Trump.

Chad Wolf, Former Acting DHS Secretary: And Iranians, like many others are what we call special interest aliens. They come from a part of the world that obviously has ties to terrorism or they have routes that they take here to the United States that raises the concern.

Lisa Fletcher: Are they potential lone wolves?

Chad Wolf, Former Acting DHS Secretary: I mean, usually what we see for lone wolves are individuals that are not being directed.

Lone wolf attacks date back decades.

Mir Aimal Kasi is often cited as one of the first lone-wolf terrorists in the US driven by Islamist extremism. In 1993 the Pakistani national killed two employees outside CIA headquarters in northern Virginia.

Major Nidal Hasan, an American born Army psychologist, killed 13 fellow soldiers and injured more than 30 in 2009 at Fort Hood in Texas.

And last year, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, also a US citizen, rammed a truck into a New Year’s crowd in New Orleans, killing 14 people and injuring nearly 60 others.

Lisa Fletcher: For people who don’t know, explain a sleeper cell?

Chad Wolf, Former Acting DHS Secretary: It could be a network of individuals around the country that are being directed. They are being directed in this case by Iran or the regime or elements of the regime to take certain actions. And then at the right time, they will be directed to take a certain action.

Lisa Fletcher: Realistically, what would an attack look like?

Chad Wolf, Former Acting DHS Secretary: I think when you talk about sleeper cells and you talk about an operation of some kind, usually there’s more sophistication. They’re getting financial help and expertise from a nation state actor or another group overseas.

Lisa Fletcher: In terms of vulnerability, are obvious hard targets still the focus or are softer targets that are less obvious, maybe more vulnerable right now?

Chad Wolf, Former Acting DHS Secretary: I think what we continue to see is that the terrorists still like those iconic targets of the United States, places in New York or elsewhere. Those targets over the years have been hardened. I think I’m most concerned about mass gatherings. So think of stadiums, think of venues like that, concerts, where it’s a chaotic situation to begin with. There’s thousands of people there and it’s more easily, or I say it’s easier to blend in and to conduct an operation of that kind versus some of the other targets that have been hardened over the years.

But even at war and with clear and present threats, the nation’s main domestic protector is facing a political challenge.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): We’ve been invaded. Only God knows how many people are here and what they’re up to. And the idea we’re not defunding DHS is insane. Criminally insane.

For Full Measure, I’m Lisa Fletcher.

Watch the video here.