The encrypted transmission was intercepted by the U.S.
The encrypted transmission was intercepted by the U.S.The U.S. has intercepted encrypted communications believed to havethat may serve as "an operational trigger" for "sleeper assets" outside the country, according to a federal government alert sent to law enforcement agencies.
The alert, reviewed by ABC News, cites "preliminary signals analysis" of a transmission "likely of Iranian origin" that was relayed across multiple countries shortly after theKhamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, was killed in a U.S.-Israeli attack on Feb. 28. The intercepted transmission was encoded and appeared to be destined for "clandestine recipients" who possess the encryption key, the kind of message intended to impart instructions to "covert operatives or sleeper assets" without the use of the internet or cellular networks. It's possible the transmissions could "be intended to activate or provide instructions to prepositioned sleeper assets operating outside the originating country," the alert said. "While the exact contents of these transmissions cannot currently be determined, the sudden appearance of a new station with international rebroadcast characteristics warrants heightened situational awareness," the alert said. While the alert is careful to say there is "no operational threat tied to a specific location," it does instruct law enforcement agencies to increase their monitoring of suspicious radio-frequency activity. If the contents of the alert prove true, it would confirm the fears expressed by law enforcement officials after the U.S. and Israel struck Iran that sleeper cells deployed around the West could be used for retaliation.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Iran live updates: Trump warns Iran may face 'complete destruction and certain death'President Donald Trump said Iran would be 'hit very hard' on Saturday.
Read more »
Iran live updates: Trump warns Iran may face 'complete destruction and certain death'President Donald Trump said Iran would be 'hit very hard' on Saturday.
Read more »
Middle East Conflict Intensifies: Israel Strikes Iran and Lebanon, Iran RetaliatesFighting across the Middle East escalates as Israel strikes targets in Lebanon and Iran, and Iran retaliates with strikes of its own. The conflict, which began in late February, has resulted in a growing death toll and widespread destruction.
Read more »
Iran foreign minister says 'we have a very good partnership with Russia’ amid Iran warThis is additional taxonomy that helps us with analytics
Read more »
Trump says U.S. ground troops in Iran 'possible' as Iran rejects ceasefire possibilitiesTrump declined to rule out the possibility of sending U.S. forces inside Iran, saying it could 'possibly happen' as the conflict intensifies.
Read more »
Iran live updates: Mojtaba Khamenei chosen as Iran's next supreme leader: Iranian state mediaHe is the son of assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Read more »