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Year: 2026

Trump pledges to ‘avenge’ fallen US service members as tensions with Iran intensify

Trump pledges to ‘avenge’ fallen US service members as tensions with Iran intensify

President Donald Trump vowed Sunday to “avenge” the deaths of three U.S. service members killed in action as the conflict involving Iran deepens across the Middle East. “As one nation, we grieve for the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation,” Trump said in a video statement posted on Truth Social.  “Even as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives, we pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen.” ENEMY WITHIN: COUNTERTERRORISM EXPERTS FEAR SLEEPER CELLS COULD BE POISED INSIDE US The president struck a somber note, warning that “sadly, there will likely be more before it ends.” “America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war,” Trump said. “Our resolve and likewise that of Israel has never been stronger.” Trump’s remarks, his first public statement since the U.S.-Israel strikes that led to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials, signaled a potentially prolonged confrontation. “This wretched and vile man had the blood of hundreds and even thousands of Americans on his hands and was responsible for the slaughter of countless thousands of innocent people all across many countries,” Trump said. TOMAHAWKS SPEARHEADED US STRIKE ON IRAN — WHY PRESIDENTS REACH FOR THIS MISSILE FIRST He said U.S. forces had struck “hundreds of targets” inside Iran, including key Revolutionary Guard facilities, air defense systems and naval assets. Trump said the U.S. “knocked out nine Iranian ships “in a matter of literally minutes.” Military operations, he added, would continue “until all of our objectives are achieved.” He went on to issue a direct warning to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and military leadership, urging them to surrender in exchange for immunity or face “certain death.”  Ahead of the strikes, the U.S. military amassed what Trump previously called an “armada” in Iran’s backyard. Mapped out across the Persian Gulf and beyond, the deployment tells its own story, one of calculated pressure backed by credible capability. At the center of the U.S. presence are two aircraft carrier strike groups — the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford — each supported by guided-missile destroyers and cruisers and capable of sustained air and missile operations. More than a dozen additional U.S. warships are also operating in the region in support roles, according to defense officials. THE ONLY MAP YOU NEED TO SEE TO UNDERSTAND HOW SERIOUS TRUMP IS ABOUT IRAN Meanwhile, Tehran has vowed retaliation for the strikes.  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that avenging Khamenei’s killing is both a “legitimate duty and right,” and added that Tehran “will forcefully crush the enemy’s bases.” The confrontation has already included missile and drone strikes launched by Iran against U.S. bases in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, though U.S. Central Command has denied Tehran’s claims of successfully targeting American carriers. The unfolding conflict has ignited reactions far beyond the Middle East, including anti-war protests in U.S. cities and heightened diplomatic tensions near American embassies, underscoring how quickly the crisis has expanded beyond the region. In Austin, authorities are investigating a recent shooting as potentially an act of terrorism, further heightening concerns about spillover effects at home. Meanwhile, federal and local law enforcement have boosted security as a precaution, though officials say no specific, credible threats have been identified.   

Enemy within: Counterterrorism experts fear sleeper cells could be poised inside US

Enemy within: Counterterrorism experts fear sleeper cells could be poised inside US

American counterterrorism agencies are quietly monitoring suspected sleeper cells on U.S. soil in the wake of joint U.S.–Israel strikes on Iran, stepping up surveillance amid heightened fears of possible retaliation from Iran-linked operatives or sympathizers. Federal and local law enforcement have also boosted on-the-ground security in major U.S. cities as part of a precautionary posture, even though no specific, credible threats have been publicly identified. The move comes on the heels of a Saturday morning operation, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials in a coordinated U.S.–Israeli military campaign. US, ISRAEL STRIKE IRAN: AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI, 40 TOP IRANIAN LEADERS KILLED Security experts warn that the fallout could extend beyond the Middle East. “If ever there’s going to be a Hezbollah cell or a Hamas cell act in the United States in a violent way, it’s now,” Chris Swecker, a former assistant FBI director, told Fox News. “Both organizations are Iranian-backed all the way. Both organizations have had a presence in the United States since the 1980s,” he added. Swecker said U.S. authorities have long been aware of domestic networks and sympathizers. “We know that they have cells here. We also know that there are lone sympathizers, many of whom have come out in these protest groups,” he added. TOMAHAWKS SPEARHEADED US STRIKE ON IRAN — WHY PRESIDENTS REACH FOR THIS MISSILE FIRST He also warned that border security vulnerabilities may have compounded the risk. “We just come off four years of open borders, and I have said before that that was an open door for terrorists to terrorist cells and terror sympathizers to infiltrate. Many were already here, but it’s impossible that they would not infiltrate into these particular groups and sort of act as catalysts, as enablers.” Against that backdrop, the FBI is moving to reinforce its domestic security posture. FBI Director Kash Patel said Saturday that counterterrorism and intelligence teams are now on high alert amid ongoing U.S. actions involving Iran. “Last night, I instructed our Counterterrorism and intelligence teams to be on high alert and mobilize all assisting security assets needed,” Patel wrote on X. Patel added that while the U.S. military is handling force protection overseas, the FBI “remains at the forefront of deterring attacks here at home” and will continue working around the clock to protect Americans. FBI RAISES COUNTERTERROR TEAMS TO HIGH ALERT AMID IRAN TENSIONS Jason Pack, a retired FBI supervisory special agent and Fox News contributor, said heightened monitoring is routine when U.S. military operations intersect with adversaries that have historically responded through indirect or unconventional means. “The intelligence and counterterrorism communities work on this kind of scenario continuously, long before any conflict begins,” Pack said. “When the United States commits to a joint military campaign with Israel, the domestic threat environment doesn’t simply remain static. It could shift, potentially significantly.” He noted that adversarial actors — including Hezbollah, Hamas’s external networks and Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps proxies — have historically demonstrated both intent and, in some cases, the capability to retaliate against U.S. military actions. Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she is “in direct coordination with our federal intelligence and law enforcement partners as we continue to closely monitor and thwart any potential threats to the homeland.” The heightened alert comes as parts of the Department of Homeland Security face a partial shutdown, raising additional questions about resources and operational strain at a time when federal agencies are on elevated watch. While no specific plots have been identified, officials acknowledge the threat environment could shift quickly as tensions overseas evolve and whether that escalation reaches American soil remains to be seen. Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan and Kelley Kramer contributed to this report. 

GOP warns Democrats’ DHS shutdown could jeopardize World Cup security

GOP warns Democrats’ DHS shutdown could jeopardize World Cup security

The ongoing government shutdown over Homeland Security funding could disrupt security planning for the FIFA World Cup, raising concerns among lawmakers as U.S. cities prepare to host matches this summer. Congressional Republicans warn that with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shuttered amid the funding lapse, host cities in both blue and red states gearing up for the games later this year could fall behind in planning. “I think it’ll be a concern real fast if we’re not able to get [DHS] reopened,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told Fox News Digital. AGENCY THAT NABBED ‘EL CHAPO,’ ‘DIDDY’ THREATENED AS DEMOCRATS’ DHS SHUTDOWN DRAGS ON The World Cup kicks off in June and will be held across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Several U.S. cities are set to host matches, including East Rutherford, New Jersey, New York, Boston, Dallas, Houston, St. Louis, Atlanta, Miami, Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle. DHS is the chief agency responsible for securing host cities as local officials prepare for an influx of fans from around the world. The agency has been shuttered for two weeks, with negotiations between the White House and Senate Democrats stalled. Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., told Fox News Digital he frequently discusses World Cup preparations with local officials but has not yet heard concerns about the shutdown’s impact. SCHUMER, DEMS AGAIN BLOCK DHS FUNDING, FORCE STATE OF THE UNION SHOWDOWN “I mean, look, if that’s the concern that Republican senators have, then have them press the White House to move forward on these negotiations,” Kim said. “You know, I just feel like they are not moving forward with the urgency that the American people want to see.” Congressional Democrats have blocked funding for DHS in a bid to enact reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), but neither side has reached an agreement on a path forward. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital it was clear to him the shutdown could affect the effort to prepare for the World Cup, though he said he had not yet heard concerns from local officials. “I think the Democrats took the wrong hostage,” Cornyn said. “I mean, they’re mad at immigration enforcement, which they don’t believe in, but they are taking TSA and FEMA and the Coast Guard hostage, and they didn’t have anything to do with that.” DEMOCRATS RISK FEMA DISASTER FUNDING COLLAPSE AS DHS SHUTDOWN HITS DAY 5 Senate Democrats argue there has been little urgency from the White House to move toward reopening DHS, citing a slowdown in negotiations over the past week. They have put the responsibility for ending the shutdown on the Trump administration, despite Republicans publicly pushing back against several of their demands, including requiring ICE agents to obtain judicial warrants and refrain from wearing masks, among other changes. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told Fox News Digital she had not heard from officials in Boston about possible disruptions to World Cup preparations. She argued Democrats’ demands that ICE adhere to the same rules as local police forces were reasonable. Warren dismissed the criticism as typical political posturing. “Well, sounds like the usual for the Trump administration,” she said. “All talk, no action.”