Every July 4 since 9/11 has been met with an increasing caution directed against potential terrorist threats. This year’s celebration is marred by a seemingly even greater amount of dread than usual, as the Islamic State terrorist group, also referred to as ISIS, has been making the news all year with worldwide bombings and attacks.

As reported by NBC News, authorities in the U.S. are concerned with ISIS spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani recently urged his supporters to attack during the holy month of Ramadan, which ends on July 17. Last month, as Reuters reported, the ISIS spokesman encouraged Jihadists to turn the holy month of Ramadan into a time of "calamity for the infidels ... Shi'ites and apostate Muslims."

Urging attacks in Iraq, Syria and Libya, al-Adnani said, "Be keen to conquer in this holy month and to become exposed to martyrdom."

Officials fear that all gathered people celebrating a holiday, especially one that is about American independence, is a tempting target for terrorists. 

According to Laith Alkhouri, a co-founder of security consulting firm Flashpoint Intelligence, "This year is different from other years because of the real links that come across between ISIS' fighters on the ground connecting with radicalized individuals or self-radicalized individuals online in the homeland."

Matthew G. Olsen, a former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, is on the same page with Alkhouri’s assessment of the current danger, stating, “We’ve been through other periods of high threat, but this time is different because of the proven reach of ISIS into Europe and the U.S.” As reported in the New York Times, Olsen added, “Even in the absence of a specific plot, there’s reason for alarm given the number of people who seem to have been motivated by ISIS’ rhetoric and direction to carry out attacks against innocent people.”