The October 7 attacks and Israel’s offensive on Gaza have “galvanised violence by a range of actors around the world”, says Avril Haines, the US director of national intelligence, according to Al Jazeera.

Speaking at a Senate Intelligence Committee briefing in Washington, DC, on Monday, Haines added that the conflict has inspired “individuals to conduct acts of anti-Semitism and Islamophobic terror worldwide”.

“While it is too early to tell, it is likely that the Gaza conflict will have a generational impact on terrorism. Both al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS), inspired by Hamas, have directed supporters to conduct attacks against Israeli and US interests,” she said.

Haines also added that US intelligence assesses that Hezbollah and Iran “do not want to cause an escalation of the conflict that pulls us or them into a full-out war”.