Thread by @JewishWarrior13

🧵An Iran expert is warning that Tehran’s response to US or Israeli strikes may go far beyond missiles and UAVs and could include ground invasion plans and activation of sleeper terror cells, potentially inside Israel and the United States. Join me as we break it down 👇

The warning comes from Dr. Yossi Mansharof of the Misgav Institute, who has closely tracked Iranian regime messaging for years. His assessment was published in a position paper obtained by Israel Hayom.

According to Mansharof, Iranian-affiliated media and regime-linked figures are openly discussing retaliation options including missile barrages, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and increasingly, a ground invasion of Israel.

This ground invasion scenario has been publicly floated by Iranian security analyst Mahdi Mohammadi and is now re-emerging in Tehran’s strategic discourse as the regional escalation deepens. Mansharof assesses that while Iran would still rely heavily on missiles and UAVs, it may also push proxy forces toward cross-border ground operations. The primary candidate: the Houthis.

The Houthi operational plan, according to Mansharof, is as follows: Transfer thousands of operatives through Saudi Arabia or Iraq. Stage and arm them in Jordan. Invade Israel from the East.

In November 2025, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed that the Houthis have also established a foothold in Syria, prompting Israeli defense planning for multi-front invasion scenarios, including from the Syrian arena.

Beyond overt military threats, Mansharof also issued another severe warning: Iran may activate sleeper terror cells inside Israel, potentially armed with weapons smuggled by the Quds Force from Jordan — and possibly from Egypt.

Israeli security officials still do not know where the massive quantities of weapons smuggled nightly by drones across the Israel–Egypt border are ultimately intended to be used. This is what we do know however.

Since the war began, dozens of Iranian-operated spies have been exposed inside Israel. Investigations show Iran was actively working toward assassinating senior Israeli figures, including PM Netanyahu, Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Former PM Naftali Bennett.

Mansharof warns: if even one Iranian asset still has access to a high-value target, Tehran may see wartime chaos as the opportunity to exact maximum strategic and psychological damage through assassination.

The threat is not limited to Israel. Iran has a proven history of operating terror cells in the United States.

Between 2011, 2017, and 2019, the Quds Force and Hezbollah used operatives with American citizenship to prepare attacks on US soil.

FBI interrogations revealed these operatives sought jobs giving them maximum access to targets, including JFK Airport and locations tied to senior Israeli military officials in New York. This was part of Iran’s so-called “homeland option.”

In 2011, US authorities also arrested an Iranian-American sent to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington, proving Tehran’s willingness to conduct brazen attacks inside the US.

Mansharof concludes with a stark warning: If the US strikes Tehran directly, Iran could activate these sleeper networks inside America itself, hoping the threat of domestic terror will deter Washington from continuing military operations.