During the Senate Select Committee's annual worldwide threat assessment hearing, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard detailed a shift in tactics by foreign Islamist terrorist groups. Gabbard stated that there are fewer indicators of large-scale, organized attacks, with efforts now focusing on individuals radicalized by Islamist propaganda, some with no direct contact with groups like ISIS or al-Qaida, and others who have had contact. These remarks prompted questions regarding whether U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict has increased the potential threat from these entities within the U.S.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard highlighted a shift in tactics by foreign Islamist terrorist groups, noting fewer indicators of large-scale, organized attacks. Efforts are now focused on individuals radicalized by Islamist propaganda, regardless of direct contact with groups like ISIS or al-Qaida.
Recent Domestic Incidents
Several violent incidents on American soil this month are under FBI investigation as potential acts of terrorism or targeted violence:
- An attempted attack on anti-Muslim protesters outside the New York City mayor's mansion.
- An attack that resulted in one student's death at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.
- An incident at a synagogue in a Detroit suburb, labeled an act of targeted violence.
Michael Masters, national director and CEO of the Secure Community Network, noted increased calls for violence from Iran, its proxies, and other designated terrorist organizations. He stated that individuals are responding to these calls at a faster pace.
Masters and other experts suggest that the U.S.-Israeli offensive against Iran has provided a narrative exploited by foreign terrorist entities. This, combined with tech companies' reduced content moderation, has created conditions where violent extremists can amplify their message.
William Braniff, executive director of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL), highlighted content moderation loss as a significant concern across ideological spectrums. He indicated that the internet is becoming a more challenging environment, with AI accelerating this trend.
Michigan Synagogue Attack Details
Investigators have not specified the motivation behind a naturalized Lebanese-American citizen, Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, firing a weapon and crashing a vehicle into a synagogue in West Bloomfield, Mich. Ghazali died by suicide at the scene.
He had recently lost family members, including two brothers and a niece and nephew, in an Israeli air strike in his hometown of Mashghara, Lebanon. One of Ghazali's brothers was identified by the Israel Defense Forces as a Hezbollah commander. Hezbollah is a U.S.-designated terrorist organization backed by Iran.
This synagogue attack highlights an ongoing increase in threats toward American Jews. Previous incidents include the killing of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., and a firebombing at a vigil for Israeli hostages in Boulder, Colo.
Michael Masters reported a 95% increase in violent posts directed towards the Jewish community on social media since the Iran conflict began, from an average of around 3,000 weekly posts.
Eric Fingerhut, president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, stated that this climate of intolerance has been developing for years. He referenced the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue attack in Pittsburgh, which killed 11 worshipers and was carried out by a white nationalist extremist.
Fingerhut emphasized that "the source of violence (homegrown extremism, foreign groups, or personal hardship) has the same impact on the Jewish community," necessitating significant security expenditures.
ISIS Operational Shift and Online Propaganda
Research from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) indicates seven ISIS-inspired plots and attacks in the U.S. in 2025, a number similar to the previous year. Matthew Ivanovich, senior research manager at ISD, noted a recent uptick in these incidents following a lull between 2019 and 2023.
ISIS has reconstituted under a decentralized model in parts of Africa and Syria, now urging self-radicalized individuals to conduct attacks locally rather than recruiting fighters to travel overseas.
Ivanovich stated that the two men charged with attempting to detonate improvised explosives outside the New York mayor's mansion fit the profile of those answering this call. He also noted that six of the seven ISIS-inspired incidents in 2025 involved teenagers.
Ivanovich observed an increase in ISIS-aligned propaganda on mainstream social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. This correlates with reduced moderation and trust and safety investments by tech companies.
Calls for Security and Prevention
In response to the increased threat environment, political and Jewish faith leaders have advocated for Congress to appropriate up to $1 billion for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, distributed by FEMA. The last appropriation was approximately $300 million.
Leaders, including Eric Fingerhut, assert that increased government funding is crucial for protecting citizens and their places of worship.
Experts also call for more investment in prevention. William Braniff, who previously led the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships at the Department of Homeland Security, stated that prevention efforts were gaining traction before a reduction in staffing and resources under the Trump administration. This work is now largely managed at the state level.