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Washington — The FBI is intensifying its focus and resources on counterterrorism threats after the United States on three I over the weekend, and Iran countered with an attack of its own on an in Qatar.
Two sources told TheNews that a memo was distributed to FBI field office directors in the past 48 hours instructing them to focus resources on , including domestically.
The memo follows a separate, unrelated internal report sent earlier this month in which the FBI forecasted that it would need to concentrate resources on Iran in the coming months. The report stated that a priority would be "helping to apply maximum pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran and its terror proxies. This includes investigating, prosecuting, and otherwise disrupting financial and logistical networks, operatives, and front groups; targeting related foreign-based hacking operations; targeting the leaders and members of terrorist groups and terror proxies responsible for capturing, harming, or killing American citizens, and seizing illicit Iranian oil exports."
It comes after the FBI has received multiple internal complaints from employees about being pulled off counterterrorism and counterintelligence tasks to focus on , according to two other sources who spoke to TheNews. The complaints warned of pressure being placed on FBI agents to "maximize the number of immigration arrests."
An FBI spokesperson said the bureau "does not comment on specific operational adjustments or personnel decisions. However, we continuously assess and realign our resources to respond to the most pressing threats to our national security and to ensure the safety of the American people."
President Trump has made a crackdown on illegal immigration and mass deportations a focal point of his second term. He has known as the Alien Enemies Act to swiftly deport migrants, programs from the threat of deportation, and approached other countries about .
by immigration authorities in Los Angeles County earlier this month sparked protests and roughly 4,000 members of the California National Guard into federal service under a law known as . His administration has also to Los Angeles.
The National Terrorism Advisory System issued a Sunday has created a "heightened threat environment" in the U.S.
"Since the start of the conflict, we have seen media releases by foreign terrorist organizations ... some of which have called for violence against US assets and personnel in the Middle East," the advisory warned. "Multiple recent Homeland terrorist attacks have been motivated by anti-Semitic or anti-Israel sentiment, and the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could contribute to US-based individuals plotting additional attacks."
The U.S. carried out precision strikes on three , Mr. Trump announced in an Saturday night. He said the assault, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, aimed to cripple Iran's nuclear program.
In response to the strikes, Iran targeting the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday. Mr. Trump indicated that the U.S. was given advance warning of the Iranian attack, and there were no American or Qatari casualties.
The attack came after Israel against Iranian nuclear and military targets starting June 13, which prompted missile counterattacks by Iran. As of Tuesday, have been killed in Iran, according to the organization Human Rights Activists in Iran. Israeli officials have said at least 28 people in Israel have died in Iran's missile attacks.
A by President Trump between Israel and Iran appears to be holding on Tuesday, with the two sides halting their exchange of fire after 12 days.
