The U.S. war with Iran has triggered a wave of domestic violence, with multiple attacks raising alarms about security at home. Within days of the first strikes, a man wearing an Iranian flag shirt killed three people in Austin, Texas. In New York, two teenagers inspired by the Islamic State attempted to detonate explosives at a protest, according to prosecutors.

On Thursday, a former National Guard member killed an R.O.T.C. instructor and wounded two students in Norfolk, Virginia, while in Michigan, a man rammed his car into Temple Israel synagogue before dying in a shootout with security guards. These incidents, though differing in circumstances, have intensified fears in an already violent America. Since the war began, police have increased patrols around synagogues and on public transit, echoing post-9/11 security measures.

Counterterrorism experts warn that the conflict could fuel more "lone offender" attacks, particularly if the war drags on. A U.S. citizen who attacked the Michigan synagogue had learned of family members killed in Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah. With thousands of Homeland Security agents reassigned to immigration enforcement and key national security positions vacant, some fear the government's capacity to prevent attacks has been weakened. Former officials say the administration is dismissing expert warnings, leaving the country vulnerable to escalating domestic threats.