The
FBI has beefed up its surveillance of Syrians living in the United States ahead
of a possible U.S. military attack on Syria, The New York Times reported Sunday.
The domestic intelligence agency and the Department of Homeland Security
have also alerted federal agencies and private firms that any U.S. strike could
trigger cyberattacks, according to the report.
Hackers who claim to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and
collectively known as the Syrian Electronic Army, have made several disruptions
in recent months on American companies, including the Times.
The newspaper said FBI agents are set to interview hundreds of Syrians in
the coming days.
U.S. officials are especially concerned because Syria’s close ally Iran
has warned that any military action on Syria would leave Israel in flames.
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security have issued a classified
bulletin alerting federal, state and local law enforcement officials of
potential threats caused by the Syrian conflict, theTimes said.
It said senior FBI officials have also directed the bureau’s field offices
to follow up with sources linked to Syrians as part of an effort to identify
any talk of a retaliatory strike. And Syrians currently under investigation
will be placed under closer scrutiny.
“They’re not starting from scratch - the field offices know what they have
in terms of sources and investigations, but this is a directive for them to
redouble their efforts and check their traps,” a senior U.S. official told the Times.
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