Since the Special Operations Association of America initially raised warnings of possible reprisal attacks against Americans in the wake of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, a number of concerning incidents have targeted innocents domestically and abroad.
After special operations forces spent two decades fighting at the tip of the spear in the Global War on Terror, the ongoing conflict in Iran appears to have brought the work of terror organizations to Western nations. In keeping with our mission to keep America safe, SOAA is sharing an update about known attacks on civilian and religious institutions worldwide that endanger those far from the conflict’s front lines. The courageous work of law enforcement professionals has kept many of the incidents below from escalating further, but we nonetheless encourage vigilance, whether at home or overseas, in the current geopolitical climate.
SOAA also notes that a large number of the attacks described below targeted Jewish institutions, including Jewish schools. This has been part of a disturbing trend of rising antisemitism in the aftermath of Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 and the conflict in Gaza that ensued.
In its most recent audit of antisemitic incidents, the Anti-Defamation League found that 9,354 antisemitic incidents occurred in 2024, the highest total the organization counted since its founding. This figure represents a 5% increase in incidents from 2023, an increase of 344% over the previous five years, and an increase of 893% over the past 10 years.
We ask that the leaders charged with answering to rising intolerance against the Jewish community continue to use all the legal and law enforcement tools at their disposal to protect Americans in these difficult times.
Michigan – March 12
On March 12, Ayman Mohamad Ghazali rammed his truck, filled with “jugs of flammable liquid” and $2,250 of fireworks, into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan while the temple’s preschool was in session. After firing on security officers responding to the scene, Ghazali shot himself in his vehicle and died.
Ghazali’s attack has been labeled as an act of revenge after his two brothers and two of their children were killed in Lebanon by Israeli airstrikes on March 5. According to the Israel Defense Forces, one of Ghazali’s brothers was a member of the specialized Hezbollah Badr Unit and managed weapons operations.
Ghazali, who became a U.S. citizen in 2016, “had previously been flagged in U.S. government databases for connections with suspected members of the militant group Hezbollah, although he was not believed to be a member himself,” CNN reported.
Virginia – March 12
At Virginia’s Old Dominion University, former Army National Guard member Mohamed Bailor Jalloh cried “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire on a classroom on March 12. Jalloh killed Reserve Officers’ Training Corps instructor Lt. Col. Brandon Shah and wounded two others before a student stabbed and killed him.
To commit his crime, Jalloh used a stolen handgun that he purchased illegally two days prior to the attack. He was on supervised probation at the time of the shooting. Jalloh had been released from prison in 2024 after serving eight years of an 11-year sentence for trying to aid the Islamic State.
Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya – March 9 – 14
Prior to its first explosive attack on a Liège, Belgium synagogue on March 9, terror group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya had no social media or Telegram presence. By the end of the week, the group had claimed three subsequent attacks: on an unspecified Jewish site in Greece on March 11, on a synagogue in Rotterdam on March 13, and at a Jewish school in Amsterdam on March 14.
Propaganda videos from the group are now being shared by Shi’ite Telegram accounts affiliated with Iran’s so-called Axis of Resistance, leading many to believe that Iran is involved in coordinating Ashab al-Yamin’s activities.
Norway – March 8
Three brothers were taken into custody in Norway on March 11 on suspicion of perpetrating an improvised explosive device attack on the U.S. Embassy in Oslo on March 8. No injuries were reported. The brothers are all citizens of Norway, but have familial ties to Iraq.
Norwegian police say the brothers are “suspected of a terror bombing” and believe they “detonated a powerful bomb at the U.S. embassy with the intention of taking lives or causing significant damage.”
New York – March 7
The following case came to SOAA’s attention through the Global Counterterrorism and Threat Intelligence Research Institute at the University of Texas at Dallas. In the midst of a protest and counterprotest outside Gracie Mansion in New York City, teens Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi worked together to launch IEDs towards protesters and New York City Police Department officers.
After being apprehended by police, Balat announced his allegiance to the Islamic State and told officers “this isn’t a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the prophet . . . We take action!” Kayumi also told officers he was affiliated with ISIS, had watched ISIS propaganda on his phone, and was inspired by the group.
An Assistant Attorney General noted that the IEDs were packed with metal shrapnel, which “reveal[ed] an intent to cause multiple deaths or serious injuries.”
Kayumi and Balat face multiple charges, including using a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a possible life sentence, and attempting to provide support and resources to a foreign terror organization, which carries a maximum 20 year sentence.
Canada – March 2 – 10
In early March, three synagogues in Toronto were the targets of shootings. On March 2, the Jewish holiday of Purim, a rabbi was still inside the Temple Emanu-El when it came under fire.
On Friday March 6, the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto synagogue came under attack about a half an hour after congregants left the space. The nearby Shaarei Shomayim synagogue was hit with gunfire around 30 minutes later.
On March 10, the U.S. consulate in Toronto came under gunfire at around 4:30 a.m. Though there were individuals inside the building, there were no injuries reported. Security camera footage caught two males reportedly firing a handgun before taking off in a white Honda CRV.
Thus far, there is no statement from police about whether any of these incidents are related.
Pakistan – March 1
After protesters attempted to storm the U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan on March 1, 22 were killed and 120 were injured. Protesters were mourning the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and standing in solidarity with the Iranian regime.
Texas – March 1
As SOAA reported earlier this month, Ndiaga Diagne opened fire on a crowded bar in Austin, Texas on March 1. He killed three and wounded 13 before he was killed by responding police.
Born in Senegal, Diagne became a U.S. citizen in 2013. He wore a sweatshirt that read “Property of Allah” over a shirt displaying the Iranian flag. The FBI is investigating the attack as a possible terrorist act.
These recent attacks show how conflicts far away can have real and dangerous impacts here at home. With places of worship and public spaces being targeted, it’s more important than ever for communities and law enforcement to stay alert and work together. Staying aware and looking out for one another are ways every American can help keep America safe.
