The has FBI alerted California police departments that Iran might retaliate against U.S. strikes by launching drones along the West Coast, according to a notice reviewed by ABC News.
The warning coincided with the Trump administration’s ongoing military actions against Iran, which has been responding with drone strikes across the Middle East. Officials said the intelligence about a possible West Coast attack predates U.S. and Israeli strikes, and a senior law enforcement source noted that Iran’s 12-day bombardment has likely reduced its ability to carry out such an operation.
The alert, issued in late February, stated: “As of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aimed to carry out a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the U.S. coast, specifically targeting locations in California, if the U.S. conducted strikes against Iran. We have no further information regarding timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this potential attack.”
An FBI spokesperson in Los Angeles declined to comment, while the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
U.S. intelligence has also expressed growing concern over Mexican drug cartels’ increasing use of drones and the potential for these devices to threaten American personnel near the southern border.
via ABC News
