New York City is ramping up its alert status after President Donald Trump unilaterally ordered U.S. forces to bomb Iran on Saturday.
While Trump called the strikes on key nuclear targets successful, the exact ramifications and fallout from the operation are still unknown. He did not receive formal congressional approval before making the decision to strike. According to CNN, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released a statement calling the United States “terrorists.”
The bombing occurred days after Israel launched its own attacks on Iran, purportedly targeting uranium enrichment facilities in an effort to prevent the country from developing its own nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, in the Big Apple, the nation’s largest police force says it is deploying additional resources in light of the conflict.
“We’re tracking the situation unfolding in Iran. Out of an abundance of caution, we’re deploying additional resources to religious, cultural, and diplomatic sites across NYC and coordinating with our federal partners. We’ll continue to monitor for any potential impact to NYC,” a statement from the NYPD said.
According to City Hall, Mayor Eric Adams began his day Sunday by attending a briefing with the NYPD liaisons in Israel, Jordan, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar. In the hours following the bombings, Adams himself confirmed of increased police presence at houses of worship across the city.
”While we await more details from our federal partners, we’ve ordered the NYPD to increase its presence around religious, cultural, and diplomatic sites throughout the five boroughs. Thinking about our large Persian population here in NYC at this time,” Adams said.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said she would be doing the same thing on a state level, adding that she is receiving intelligence briefings and will do whatever it takes to keep the city and state safe. On Sunday, she announced that the MTA and Port Authority “have activated counterterrorism protections in partnership with local law enforcement” to guard against any potential attacks, though she noted the state is not aware of any specific or credible threats at this time.
“My top priority is the safety of all New Yorkers. I am receiving intelligence briefings and closely monitoring the evolving situation in Iran alongside federal and local partners. The New York State Police are working to protect at-risk sites and fight cyberattacks,” Hochul said.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) condemned Trump’s unilateral decision to bomb Iran, noting that Trump “failed to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force.”
“Donald Trump promised to bring peace to the Middle East. He has failed to deliver on that promise,” Jeffries said. “The risk of war has now dramatically increased, and I pray for the safety of our troops in the region who have been put in harm’s way.”
