Army Warns Retired Special Ops Veterans in Florida of Credible Terror Threat

The U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) has released an official alert regarding a credible terrorist threat aimed at retired senior Department of Defense officials who formerly served in Iraq and Syria and currently live in Florida.

Lt. Col. Allie Scott, the spokesperson for USASOC, validated the alert on Friday and disseminated it internally through the military's "Duty to War" protocol. USASOC's provost marshal, Col. Mark A. Katz, issued the alert, which The New York Times first highlighted and widely shared on social platforms.

“It’s a serious concern,” Scott informed Task & Purpose. “We provided that alert, as we do with all legitimate concerns.” We distributed those to our units because, naturally, the well-being and protection of all our personnel is a priority.

Scott refrained from revealing details regarding the individuals involved or the intelligence that prompted the alert, emphasizing the importance of operational security. She has confirmed that those thought to be impacted have been directly informed.

Although there are no signs of a threat to active-duty service members, USASOC underscores the significance of maintaining awareness and caution. All personnel were urged to report any suspicious activity and to disseminate the advisory to retired special operations forces who might be vulnerable.

The warning arises against the ongoing context of sustained U.S. military efforts aimed at eliminating ISIS leadership in the Middle East. Since 2014, U.S. and coalition forces have been actively engaging in operations, including raids and airstrikes, targeting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. In March, the military announced the death of ISIS’s second-in-command in western Iraq.

The U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Central Command are headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, alongside other significant military installations across the state, including the headquarters of U.S. Southern Command in Miami. Florida is home to a considerable population of retired military personnel, a large portion of whom have experience serving in combat zones.

Although there are no specifics about the threat or its source, the recent notification about the "Duty to Warn" underscores persistent concerns about threats from extremist organizations targeting well-known veterans of the wars in Iraq and Syria.

With limited information available, USASOC has called on its community—both current and former members—to remain vigilant and focus on their safety.