On Tuesday, AlertsUSA subscribers were informed of a new threat issued by the Islamic State calling for attacks on soccer stadiums in Spain, France and Germany. These are some of the venues hosting major games in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League — European soccer's biggest club competition.

A post disseminated to online jihadist forums shows a large graphic (above) of a gunman in a balaclava, along with the message, "Kill them all," in large text. The background is a collage of images showing different stadiums hosting the games, including London's Emirates Stadium, Paris's Parc de Prince, and Madrid's Metropolitano Arena.

A second ISIS graphic was also released, showing a drone flying over the Madrid stadium with the caption: "If they constrict and oppress you on the ground, then strike them from the sky".

The UEFA Quarter-final second legs will take place April 16-17 in Barcelona Spain, Dortmund Germany, Munich Germany, and Manchester England.

FBI Director Warns of ‘Coordinated Attack’ on US

FBI Director Christopher Wray warned lawmakers Thursday of a growing fear among law enforcement of a “coordinated attack” inside the US — weeks after an ISIS assault on a concert hall in Moscow killed 145 people and wounded hundreds more.

“Our most immediate concern has been that individuals or small groups will draw twisted inspiration from the events in the Middle East to carry out attacks here at home,” Wray told a House Appropriations subcommittee. But now, increasingly concerning is the potential for a coordinated attack here in the homeland, akin to the ISIS-K attack we saw at the Russia concert hall a couple weeks ago.”

Director Wray's comments came during budget hearings before a House Appropriations subcommittee.

AlertsUSA continues to monitor the overall domestic and international threat environment and will immediately notify service subscribers, via SMS messages and email, of breaking incidents of national significance, as well as any new alerts, warnings or advisories impacting the overall threat picture for American citizens, as events warrant.

Hamas's political leader Ismail Haniyeh has confirmed that three of his sons and four of his grandchildren were killed in an air strike in Gaza. Hamas-linked media said the car his sons were travelling in was hit in Al-Shati camp near Gaza City. The group was reportedly on its way to a family celebration to mark the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid.

AlertsUSA subscribers were notified on Thursday of a new security alert issued by the US Embassy in Jerusalem, warning Americans of the need for caution and increased personal security awareness while in Israel. The security alert also noted that U.S. government employees and their families are restricted from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Bear Sheeva areas until further notice.

The Iranian Tasnim state news agency affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IGRC) said paramilitary Revolutionary Guard commandos seized a cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz. The detained ship, named "MSC Aries," is a Portuguese flagged vessel partially owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer. The vessel was being transferred to Iran’s territorial waters.

The US has repositioned multiple ships and other assets to protect Israel and American forces in the region. The moves by the U.S. are part of an effort to avoid a wider conflict in the Middle East.

Is Iran Preparing to Nuke Israel?

In the wake of an Israeli air strike that killed several senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officers, Iran is threatening retaliation. In response to the threat, the Israelis are preparing to hit Iranian nuclear weapons facilities. Why? Why the sudden interest in taking out these sites? What does that tell you?

~ READ MORE HERE (AND Magazine) ~

Europe Cannot Escape A Sino-American War Over Taiwan

It is a trope in superhero stories that the hero must try and be in two places at once. Europe is trying to do the same by splitting its military capabilities between the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific. But neither European states individually nor Europe collectively are or have been superpowers for a very long time. Rather than dilute the fragile sense of purpose and growing power they have built in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European powers should prioritize their home region. Backfilling maritime security in the Euro-Atlantic up to the western Indian Ocean is a more valuable distribution of tasks with the United States than sending limiting capabilities that are unfit for the deterrence of China.

~ READ MORE HERE (War On The Rocks) ~

National Security Vulnerabilities of an Insecure Border

Any number of experts are warning about potential terrorist threats to our homeland, but missing from most analyses is the source of such threats. The group you should be most worried about is Islamic State (ISIS) and especially its subsidiary, ISIS Khorasan (ISIS-K), which has both the motive and — thanks to President Biden’s border policies — the opportunity to strike the heart of America. Worse, ISIS-K has few concerns about the ramifications of its actions: Militants from the group recently carried out attacks in Russia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and if they are not afraid of Putin or the mullahs, there’s no reason to think they’d hesitate to attack us.

~ READ MORE HERE (Ctr for Immigration Studies) ~

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of April 8, 2024 based on U.S. Navy, public data provided by the U.S. Naval Institute, and open source reporting.

BORDER

Bird flu pushes US dairy farmers to ban visitors, chop trees
Man on terror watchlist was released by Border Patrol
Tucson CBP agents seizing enough fentanyl, meth to kill billions of people
DHS deportation officer busted transporting cartel ca$h
CBP seizes multiple weapons headed for Mexico

PUBLIC HEALTH

Lunchables found to contain relatively high lead levels
CDC updates strategy to detect and monitor public health threats
CDC hid finding of possible link between COVID vaccines and tinnitus
WHO global pandemic treaty threatens American sovereignty
Argentina is running out of bug spray amid record dengue surge

AMERICAS

House passes 2-year surveillance law extension without warrant requirement
Biden leaves the beach to meet with advisers amid Mideast tensions
Since February, DHS has received over 3,000 applications for new AI Corps
Navy shipyards compete with fast food, and are losing
Crime concerns as violent Venezuelan gang arrive in American cities
CNO: investing in industrial base, growing the fleet are top priorities
Idaho teen arrested day before planned ISIS-inspired attack on church
DoD has seen 'huge' increase in military sales since Ukraine invasion
White House condemns 'Death to America' chants in Michigan
Contractor refuels B-52 and Super Herc over the Pacific in an Air Force first
Waiting for change, Haitians endure hell on earth

EUROPE

US forces in Europe will continue eastward shift as Russia builds up its army
3 teens suspected of planning an Islamic extremist attack arrested in Germany
Massive attack destroys one of Ukraine’s largest power plants
Russian forces kill two suspected of plotting terror attacks
Ukrainian parliament passes controversial conscription law
Germany arrests 'IS' suspects for enslaving Yazidi children
Russia’s GPS meddling in the Baltic Sea demands NATO action
ISIS supporter who encouraged attack on Prince George admits guilt
Fatal stabbing in Bordeaux connected to victims' alcohol consumption on Eid
Belgium probes suspected Russian interference in upcoming EU elections

MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA

Hamas leader's sons & grandchildren killed in single Israeli airstrike
Iran warns U.S. to stay out of fight with Israel or face attack on troops
Hamas can't locate 40 israeli hostages needed for 1st round of ceasefire
US, Israeli officials fear most hostages held by Hamas are dead
Indonesia ready to normalize ties with Israel as part of bid to join OECD
Israel deploys naval version of its Iron Dome missile defense system
Israel would let 150,000 Gazans return north in potential truce
IRGC naval chief threatens to close key strait, vows response to Syria strike
Togo bans protests over a canceled presidential election as tensions rise
Sudan's war spills into farming state hosting displaced people
Israeli forces kill two Palestinians including Hamas gunman in West Bank
IDF says first aid trucks entered Gaza through newly opened crossing
Millions face 'critical food insecurity' in Chad, NGO says
Russia sends military trainers and air-defence system to Niger
Kenya proposes maritime treaty to defuse Ethiopia-Somalia tensions
12+ killed and an ~15,000 displaced by flooding in Kenya

ASIA / OCEANIA

China providing geospatial intelligence to Russia, US warns
US and Japan announce new military agreements aimed at countering China
Philippines’ Duterte claims China threatened war over South China Sea
US-Chinese military talks resume after a nearly 2-year break
Japan to be considered for membership in AUKUS military technology pact
US-China competition to field drone swarms could fuel global arms race
China holds ‘combat patrol’ in S. China Sea amid US-led war games
China-Taiwan tension brings troops and anxiety to Japan's Ishigaki
Fall of Myanmar town to rebels sends people fleeing into Thailand
N.K. leader vows to deal 'death-blow' to enemy in event of confrontation
Japan unveils modified Kaga vessel refurbished for F-35B stealth fighters
Japanese astronaut to be first non-American to set foot on Moon
Australia says mil collaboration with Japan is not about creating ‘Jaukus’