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December 23, 2025
Immigration
NatSec

African Man Gets Life Sentence for Planning 9/11-Style Attack.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Kenyan man was sentenced to life in prison for planning a terrorist attack on Atlanta’s Bank of America Plaza in 2019.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Cholo Abdi Abdullah, a member of the Somali-based terrorist group al-Shabaab, and U.S. federal prosecutors.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Sentencing took place Monday; the plot targeted Atlanta, Georgia, and involved actions in Somalia, the Philippines, and the U.S.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Abdullah admitted to FBI agents that he was training to become a pilot on behalf of al-Shabaab so he could hijack a plane.” – U.S. Department of Justice

🎯IMPACT: Abdullah was sentenced to two consecutive life terms for conspiring to commit a 9/11-style attack.

IN FULL

Cholo Abdi Abdullah, a 34-year-old Kenyan man, was sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison on Monday, December 22, 2025, for plotting to hijack a commercial airliner and crash it into Atlanta‘s Bank of America Plaza, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Abdullah, a member of the Somali-based terrorist group al-Shabaab, was convicted on November 4, 2024, for multiple terrorism-related crimes.

Abdullah joined al-Shabaab in 2015 and underwent extensive military-style training in Somalia, including firearms and explosives training. He later enrolled in a flight school in the Philippines between 2017 and 2019, where he trained to become a commercial pilot as part of a larger plan to carry out a mass-casualty terrorist attack on behalf of al-Shabaab. His tuition was financed by the group, which funds its operations—in part—through extortion in Somalia.

Prosecutors revealed that Abdullah researched U.S. transit visas, airplane cockpit security, and the feasibility of smuggling weapons onboard flights. He specifically targeted the 55-story Bank of America Plaza in Atlanta, Georgia, as the site of his planned attack. Abdullah admitted to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents that he expected to die in the attack and acknowledged that others would be killed or injured.

The DOJ detailed that Abdullah was arrested in the Philippines in July 2019, just before completing the final requirements for his commercial pilot license. He was transferred to U.S. custody in December 2020. His conviction included charges such as conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and conspiring to commit aircraft piracy, among others.

Concerningly, the recent social services fraud scandal that has gripped Tim Walz’s Minnesota has likely seen the state’s Somali immigrant community funnel possibly over one billion in taxpayer dollars to al-Shabaab. Governor Walz (D) has defiantly pledged to bring more Somali immigrants to his state despite the scandal.

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8 minutes ago
News

BREAKING: Palm Beach Airport Renamed for Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill to rename Palm Beach International Airport.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida state legislature.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 30, 2026, in Florida.

💬KEY QUOTE: The airport will be renamed to President Donald J. Trump International Airport.

🎯IMPACT: The change is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, pending FAA approval.

IN FULL

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has approved House Bill 919, which will rename Palm Beach International Airport to President Donald J. Trump International Airport. The approval was given on March 30, 2026.

The change is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, but is subject to approval from the Federal Aviation Administration and a name-use agreement.

The Florida state legislature had passed the bill earlier in February, paving the way for the renaming process to begin.

Supporters of the renaming argue that it honors President Trump’s impact on the state and the nation. The airport is located in a region where Trump has strong ties, notably his Mar-a-Lago estate.

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By Popular Demand.
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16 minutes ago
Immigration

Trump Admin Resumes Asylum Processing After 5-Month Pause.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has lifted its total ban on reviewing asylum applications, though restrictions remain for around 40 countries.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: DHS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The pause was implemented in November 2025 following a deadly attack on the National Guard in Washington, D.C., by an Afghan national.

💬KEY QUOTE: “USCIS has lifted the adjudicative hold for thoroughly screened asylum seekers from non-high-risk countries.” – DHS spokesman.

🎯IMPACT: The move reallocates resources to focus on national security and public safety vetting for higher-risk cases.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has moved to lift the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) hold on reviewing asylum applications, though the department stresses that restrictions continue to remain in place for around 40 countries of particular national security concern. In November last year, President Donald J. Trump directed DHS to impose a pause on processing asylum claims after an Afghan national shot two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., killing one.

At the time, then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem indicated the pause in reviews would be indefinite as the department worked through a backlog of nearly four million asylum cases. Importantly, the hold on reviews continues to apply to countries deemed “high risk,” including Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, and multiple African nations.

“USCIS has lifted the adjudicative hold for thoroughly screened asylum seekers from non-high-risk countries,” a DHS spokesman said on Monday, adding, “This move allows resources to focus on continued rigorous national security and public safety vetting for higher-risk cases.”

Importantly, other restrictions remain in effect, such as the pause on issuing immigrant visas to 75 countries and the halt of immigration applications from nations covered by President Trump’s travel ban. Late last year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began a re-review of foreign nationals granted refugee status by the former Biden government, applying more rigorous scrutiny to the applicants. A number of these individuals have subsequently been referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation.

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46 minutes ago
War

Hezbollah Orchestrated Michigan Synagogue Attack, FBI Confirms.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The March 12 ramming attack by a Lebanese-American man targeting Michigan’s largest Jewish Reform synagogue was orchestrated by the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist group, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a 41-year-old Lebanese national and naturalized U.S. citizen; Ghazali’s brother, an alleged Hezbollah commander; and the Lebanese Islamist terrorist group Hezbollah.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The FBI revealed Ghazali’s ties to Hezbollah on Monday, March 30, 2026, following the March 12 attack.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is the largest gathering place for Israelis in the State of Michigan in the United States. I have booby-trapped the car. I will forcefully enter and start shooting them. God willing, I will kill as many of them as I possibly can.” — Ayman Mohamad Ghazali in an alleged video taking credit for the attack

🎯IMPACT: Ghazali had lost several family members just days earlier in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon, including his brother, who appears to have been a commander in Hezbollah.

IN FULL

The man who targeted the largest Jewish Reform synagogue in Michigan earlier this month was directed by the Iranian-backed Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a 41-year-old Lebanese national and naturalized U.S. citizen, purposefully targeted the Jewish community when he drove his vehicle into Michigan’s largest synagogue and opened fire on March 12.

During a press conference, the FBI stated that Ghazali’s attack was motivated and directed by Hezbollah’s “militant ideology.” Jennifer Runyan, the FBI’s special agent in charge in Detroit, revealed that Ghazali recorded a video just before the attack in which he stated, “This is the largest gathering place for Israelis in the State of Michigan in the United States. I have booby-trapped the car. I will forcefully enter and start shooting them. God willing, I will kill as many of them as I possibly can.”

Ghazali, a resident of Dearborn Heights—which boasts a population of around 60,000 people, with 25 percent being of Arabic extraction—drove his Ford F-150 through the doors of the synagogue, the vehicle laden with commercial fireworks and gasoline. He subsequently exchanged gunfire with a security guard before fatally shooting himself.

The National Pulse previously reported that Ghazali had lost several family members just days earlier in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon, including his brother, who appears to have been a commander in Hezbollah. In addition, the FBI noted that Ghazali had also watched footage of an Iranian fatwa calling for “total jihad against the U.S. military” shortly before carrying out the attack.

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By Popular Demand.
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1 hour ago
News

GOP Senator Introduces Bill to Debank Illegal Migrants.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Legislation was introduced to ban illegal migrants from accessing the American banking system.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) and U.S. financial institutions.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Introduced in 2025, targeting U.S. banking system.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Access to the American banking system is a privilege that should only be reserved for those who respect our laws and sovereignty.” – Senator Tom Cotton

🎯IMPACT: Aims to prevent illegal migrants from using financial institutions to remain in the U.S.

IN FULL

Senator Tom Cotton, representing Arkansas, has put forth the Know Your American Customer Act, a legislative proposal aimed at barring illegal migrants from participating in the American banking system.

The proposed act mandates that U.S. financial institutions verify the legal status of new customers, ensuring that American banks do not facilitate illegal migrants in violating U.S. laws.

In a letter addressed to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in 2025, Senator Cotton requested a review of the existing rules concerning illegal immigrant access to the U.S. banking system.

The act requires banks and credit unions insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) to confirm that anyone opening a new account is either a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or legally present with a valid visa, using identification such as a driver’s license or passport.

While the legislation would grandfather in existing clients, allowing them to maintain or open new accounts if they have an established relationship with their financial institution, it also criminalizes the act of illegal migrants opening or maintaining accounts, placing legal responsibility on individuals unless institutions fail to verify documentation in good faith.

The logic behind grandfathering in old accounts revolves around getting buy-in from the banking industry, which has objected to fronting the cost of finding existing illegal migrants in their systems.

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2 hours ago
Corruption
Crime

BLM Organizer Ordered to Forfeit Over $224,000 for COVID Fraud Scheme, But Avoids ANY Jail Time.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Boston-based Black Lives Matter (BLM) activist Monica Cannon-Grant has been ordered to forfeit $224,063 by a federal judge to cover taxpayer dollars she stole through diverting donations from her nonprofit, collecting fraudulent pandemic unemployment benefits, and pocketing rental assistance.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Monica Cannon-Grant, U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley, and federal prosecutors.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.

🎯IMPACT: The forfeiture ruling, issued last week, is in addition to the $106,000 restitution payment ordered when Cannon-Grant was sentenced this past January to probation, home detention, and community service, with no prison time.

IN FULL

Boston-based Black Lives Matter (BLM) activist Monica Cannon-Grant has been ordered to forfeit $224,063 by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley—a Joe Biden appointee—to cover taxpayer dollars she stole through diverting donations from her nonprofit, collecting fraudulent pandemic unemployment benefits, and pocketing rental assistance. The forfeiture ruling, issued last week, is in addition to the $106,000 restitution payment ordered when Cannon-Grant was sentenced this past January.

According to the federal court filing, the forfeiture amount includes approximately $181,000 in diverted donations from Violence in Boston Inc., the nonprofit she founded, over $33,000 in fraudulent pandemic unemployment benefits, and about $12,600 in rental assistance benefits. Federal prosecutors initially charged Cannon-Grant, along with her late husband Clark Grant, in March 2022 and detailed how the couple used the nonprofit’s funds and government assistance payments to finance expensive vacations and pay for extravagant dinners.

The federal charges against Clark Grant were dropped following his death in a motorcycle accident in May 2023. Meanwhile, Cannon-Grant pleaded guilty to the 18-count federal indictment in September 2025. Judge Kelley initially sentenced the BLM activist to probation, home detention, and community service, with no prison time.

Cannon-Grant, who founded the nonprofit Violence in Boston Inc. in 2017, expanded the organization by 2020 and became a well-known figure in Boston‘s progressive circles. She was recognized as Bostonian of the Year by The Boston Globe and as the city’s best social justice advocate by Boston Magazine. The BLM activist was the organizer behind a several-thousand-person protest in Boston after the death of George Floyd.

The National Pulse previously reported that now-former far-left Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, a former illegal immigrant hailing from Cape Verde, was arrested in December 2024 on five counts of aiding and abetting wire fraud and theft from federally funded programs. Fernandes Anderson was found guilty and, in 2025, sentenced to one month in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $13,000 in restitution.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
War

Bannon: Netanyahu’s Son in Miami, Arab Princes in London Should be Frontlines of Kharg Island Invasion.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Stephen K. Bannon called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s son to be drafted into a possible invasion of Kharg Island.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Stephen K. Bannon, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Arab leaders.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 30, 2026, during Bannon’s WarRoom show.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Let’s have him in the first wave.” – Stephen K. Bannon

🎯IMPACT: Bannon’s comments come as President Donald J. Trump has hinted at a possible amphibious invasion of Kharg Island, which has been pushed by neoconservatives like Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

IN FULL

Stephen K. Bannon, host of the WarRoom show and former White House Chief Strategist during President Donald J. Trump’s first administration, has called for the drafting of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s son and various Arab princes in the event of an amphibious invasion of Iran’s Kharg Island.

Kharg is Iran’s main oil export hub in the Persian Gulf, and Trump recently hinted at the possibility of seizing it to The Financial Times, saying, “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options,” adding: “It would also mean we had to be [on Kharg] for a while.”

Neoconservatives have been pushing hard for such an invasion, with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) recently saying, “We did Iwo Jima, we can do this,” in reference to the World War II battle for the Japanese island of the same name, which saw over 25,000 American casualties.

Bannon argues it should not be left to Americans to handle the task, telling his audience, “I want Arabs, I want the UAE, MBZ [Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates], who’s the best they’ve got over there… He’s got a real army; it’s not huge, but they actually know how to fight… Kharg Island, there’s your objective, go.”

“And throw in a couple of Qatar princes, throw the Saudi princes in there, too. Get ’em out of London, get ’em out of the casinos and whore houses in London, and get ’em back to the Gulf,” Bannon continued, adding: “[Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s kid down in Miami, turf him out tomorrow. Where’s DHS? Throw him out, get him back there, put a uniform on him. Let’s have him in the first wave.”

Israel is currently reported to be lobbying against a ceasefire in the Iran war, arguing it needs “several more weeks” to achieve “full strategic victory,” which now includes seizing southern Lebanon.

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3 hours ago
War

This European NATO Member is Denying the U.S. Access to Its Airspace for Iran Operations.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED:  U.S. planes have been banned from using Spanish airspace in connection with the war in Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles and the United States military.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Monday in Spain.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Neither the bases are authorized, nor, of course, is the use of Spanish airspace authorized for any actions related to the war in Iran.” – Margarita Robles

🎯IMPACT: The decision underscores Spain’s opposition to the war and limits U.S. military options in the region.

IN FULL

Spain’s Defense Minister has announced that the country will no longer allow U.S. military planes to traverse its airspace to conduct operations against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Spanish Socialist Party government made the announcement on Monday and stressed that the country has made its opposition to U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran clear from the beginning.

“Neither the bases are authorized, nor, of course, is the use of Spanish airspace authorized for any actions related to the war in Iran,” Defense Minister Margarita Robles stated, adding, “This was made perfectly clear to the American military and forces from the very beginning.” She reiterated that Spain views the war in Iran as “profoundly illegal and profoundly unjust.”

The decision follows an earlier move to deny the United States the use of jointly operated military bases in the country for activities tied to the conflict. Notably, the denial of airspace and base access could create a minor complication for U.S. military logistics in moving additional resources, munitions, and equipment to the Middle East. However, other European nations have opened their airspace, allowing some flexibility.

The National Pulse reported at the beginning of March that, anticipating the lack of cooperation from Spain‘s socialist government, the U.S. military moved at least 15 aircraft from the Rota and Morón air bases in southern Spain. According to tracking data, at least seven aircraft were redeployed to Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

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4 hours ago
William Upton
News

TSA Agents Receive Back Pay After Trump Intervenes.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Most Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees affected by the Senate Democrats’ shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) received at least two paychecks covering back pay for the two prior pay periods on Monday.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: TSA employees, DHS, Senate Democrats, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The paychecks were issued on Monday, March 30, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “American travelers are paying the price for Democrats’ partisan games. The president worked with his legal team and the Office of Management and Budget to find a solution to take care of the emergency we were seeing in air travel across the country, and because of the president, TSA agents are being paid.” — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

🎯IMPACT: Last week, President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order directing the Secretary of Homeland Security, along with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to utilize funds with a “reasonable logical nexus” to TSA operations to pay the over 60,000 TSA employees, including approximately 50,000 transportation security officers.

IN FULL

Most Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees affected by the Senate Democrats’ shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) received at least two paychecks covering back pay for the two prior pay periods on Monday. The National Pulse reported last week that President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order directing the Secretary of Homeland Security, along with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to utilize funds with a “reasonable logical nexus” to TSA operations to pay the over 60,000 TSA employees, including approximately 50,000 transportation security officers.

As of Monday, DHS says almost all TSA employees should have received payments, but noted that some checks may be delayed. “A small population might see a slight delay due to a variety of reasons, including financial institution processing times or issues with their direct deposit,” DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated, adding, “We are working aggressively with USDA’s National Finance Center to complete processing for the half paycheck they are owed from pay period 3 as soon as possible.”

Speaking at Monday’s press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the air travel crisis is a direct result of congressional Democrats’ intransigence on funding DHS. “American travelers are paying the price for Democrats’ partisan games. The president worked with his legal team and the Office of Management and Budget to find a solution to take care of the emergency we were seeing in air travel across the country, and because of the president, TSA agents are being paid,” Leavitt said.

Still, a number of House and Senate Democrats contend that President Trump‘s order to pay TSA agents violates federal law and infringes on Congress’s constitutional power over appropriations. Nearly 500 transportation security officers have resigned since the shutdown began, and many more have reported sick at unprecedented rates. This situation has led to excessive security wait times at airports, some reaching over many hours, causing chaos for travelers and increasing the risk of security issues amid the ongoing Iran war.

Image by Michael Ball.

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5 hours ago
Economy

Trump Admin Expands 401(k) Options.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Labor proposed a regulation to expand retirement investment options for Americans, with the inclusion of alternative assets in 401(k) plans.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Department of Labor, Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The new rule was announced on Monday, March 30, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Americans’ ability to participate more fully in innovation and economic growth through well-diversified long-term investments is a vitally important priority for effective retirement planning.” – SEC Chairman Paul Atkins

🎯IMPACT: The new rule broadens access to alternative retirement investments for over 90 million Americans and could potentially increase 40(k) returns by roughly 50 basis points annually.

IN FULL

The Trump administration unveiled a new federal rule aimed at increasing retirement investment options for more than 90 million Americans, including opening 401(k) plans to investments in private equity, real estate, digital assets, and private credit. Under the new regulatory guidance issued on Monday by the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the average American saving for retirement is expected to see better returns, improved diversification, and access to private-market opportunities typically restricted to wealthy investors.

Notably, the new guidance for 401(k) plan managers outlines steps for considering alternative assets and establishing safe harbors for plan fiduciaries when selecting investment alternatives. The proposal is a result of President Donald J. Trump’s August 7, 2025, Executive Order democratizing access to alternative assets for 401(k) investors.

“This proposed rule will show how plans can consider products that better reflect the investment landscape as it exists today. This greater diversity will drive innovation and result in a major win for American workers, retirees, and their families,” said Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hailed the regulatory change, emphasizing “the proposed rule is an initial step in implementing the President’s Executive Order in a safe and smart manner, broadening access to additional retirement plan options for millions of Americans while being mindful of the importance of protecting retirement assets.”

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins, addressing the rule change, stated, “Americans’ ability to participate more fully in innovation and economic growth through well-diversified long-term investments is a vitally important priority for effective retirement planning.”

The Department of Labor emphasized that the lack of regulatory clarity has long made managers of defined contribution plans wary of alternative investments, even though such investments are technically legal. “In 2022, the Biden Administration further stifled these investments through a rescinded compliance release that warned fiduciaries about including cryptocurrency options in 401(k) plans,” the agency stated. Importantly, some projections suggest the new rule could potentially increase 401(k) returns by roughly 50 basis points annually.

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5 hours ago
War

U.S. Embassy Warns of Iranian Attacks on American Universities.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. has issued an advisory for all American citizens to leave Iraq due to escalating threats and attacks by Iran and allied militias, especially on universities with perceived ties to the American government.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and American citizens in Iraq.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The advisory was issued on Sunday, with threats targeting Baghdad, Sulaymaniyah, Dohuk, and other locations in Iraq.

💬KEY QUOTE: “From now on, all universities of the occupier regime and American universities in the West Asia region will be legitimate targets for us.” – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

🎯IMPACT: U.S. citizens in Iraq face significant risks, including potential kidnappings, missile attacks, and targeted strikes on American-linked institutions.

IN FULL

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has warned American citizens to leave Iraq immediately due to escalating threats from the Islamic Republic of Iran and militias aligned with the Islamist regime. The advisory highlighted potential attacks on American-linked universities and other institutions in Baghdad, Sulaymaniyah, and Dohuk, as well as civilian sites around the Middle Eastern country.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared U.S.-linked universities in the region to be “legitimate targets.” On Sunday, a statement from the IRGC was published in Iraqi media informing “the unwise rulers of the White House” that “from now on, all universities of the occupier [Israeli] regime and American universities in the West Asia region will be legitimate targets for us.” Notably, the IRGC statement advised individuals near these universities to maintain a distance of at least half-a-mile, citing recent strikes on Iranian universities as justification for their threats.

The IRGC statement also claimed that Iran and its affiliated militias have conducted widespread attacks in Iraq, targeting airports, government institutions, energy infrastructure, and hotels frequented by foreigners. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has warned that these groups may also attempt kidnappings of American citizens.

Likewise, the U.S. State Department continues to reiterate its Level 4 “Do Not Travel” warning for Iraq, urging Americans to leave immediately. Overland routes into Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey remain the primary options for departure, though each route has its own restrictions and potential delays. Jordan currently offers the most accessible exit, with commercial flights operating from Amman.

Image by Fars Media Corporation.

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