Despite the achievements of Operation Epic Fury, there remains a troubling possibility that Iran might achieve what no adversary of the United States has managed since the War of 1812: launching an attack on American soil. A recent report raises concerns about the potential existence of Iranian sleeper cells within the United States, poised to act at a moment’s notice.

It has been reported that U.S. counterterrorism agencies, including the FBI, are currently keeping a close watch on these potential Iranian-backed sleeper cells.

While the elimination of members from one of the most brutal regimes in modern times is undoubtedly a worthy pursuit, the notion of sleeper cells operating within our borders is not a new concern.

Indeed, signs of such activity may have surfaced with a lone sympathizer in Austin, Texas, just this past Sunday.

The move comes on the heels of a Saturday morning operation, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials in a coordinated U.S.–Israeli military campaign.

Not that killing the members of one of the most vicious, murderous regimes of modern history isn’t still worth doing, but this possibility, of having sleeper cells right here in our own homeland, well, that’s nothing new. 

“If ever there’s going to be a Hezbollah cell or a Hamas cell act in the United States in a violent way, it’s now,” Chris Swecker, a former assistant FBI director, told Fox News.

“Both organizations are Iranian-backed all the way. Both organizations have had a presence in the United States since the 1980s,” he added.

Swecker said U.S. authorities have long been aware of domestic networks and sympathizers.

“We know that they have cells here. We also know that there are lone sympathizers, many of whom have come out in these protest groups,” he added.

We may well have seen just one such lone sympathizer in Austin, Texas, on Sunday.