Editor’s notice: The FBI has posted a fuller model of its alert to California authorities, which incorporates that the data was unverified. The newest model of this story has been up to date with the complete assertion.
The FBI warned police departments in California in current days that Iran might retaliate for American assaults by launching drones on the West Coast, in keeping with an alert reviewed by ABC News.
“We recently acquired unverified information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event the U.S. conducted strikes against Iran,” in keeping with the alert distributed on the finish of February. “We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack.”
The warning got here simply because the Trump administration launched its ongoing assault in opposition to the Islamic Republic. Iran has been retaliating with drone strikes in opposition to targets all through the Mideast.
The details about Iran’s aspirations for a shock drone assault on the West Coast got here earlier than the U.S. and Israel launched strikes in opposition to Iran, and a senior legislation enforcement official mentioned it is believed the 12-day bombardment has severely degraded Iran’s capabilities to hold out such an assault.
A spokeswoman for the FBI workplace in LA declined to remark.
Asked concerning the alert despatched to California police, President Donald Trump mentioned Wednesday: “It’s being investigated. But you have a lot of things happening, and all we can do is take them as they come, and the war itself is being prosecuted as well as anybody has ever seen.”
U.S. intelligence officers have additionally grown involved in current months concerning the increasing use of drones by Mexican drug cartels and the prospect the expertise may very well be used to assault American forces and personnel close to the Mexican border.
“An uncorroborated report suggested that unidentified Mexican cartel leaders had authorized attacks using UAS (drones) carrying explosives against US law enforcement and US military personnel along the US-Mexico border,” in keeping with a September 2025 bulletin reviewed by ABC News. “This type of attack against US personnel or interests inside the United States would be unprecedented but exemplifies a plausible scenario, although (cartels) typically avoid actions that would result in unwanted attention or responses from US authorities.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s workplace informed ABC News: “The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is actively working with state, local and federal security officials to protect our communities.”
And the LA Sheriff’s Department mentioned that “in light of current global events” it’s sustaining an “elevated level of readiness.”
“Out of an abundance of caution, and in recognition of current religious observances, the Department has continued increased patrols around places of worship, cultural institutions, and other prominent locations throughout the County,” the division mentioned in an announcement.
“We have proactively reviewed our deployment plans, enhanced coordination with our patrol stations, and ensured that additional resources are available should they be needed.”
ABC News contributor John Cohen, the previous head of intelligence for the Department of Homeland Security, mentioned he’s involved about the potential of drone warfare coming from each the Pacific and Mexico.
“We know Iran has an extensive presence in Mexico and South America, they have relationships, they have the drones and now they have the incentive to conduct attacks,” Cohen mentioned. “The FBI is smart for putting this warning out so that state and locals can be better able to prepare and respond to these types of threats. Information like this is critically important for law enforcement.”
While the FBI’s warning didn’t specify how or when vessels carrying assault drones might get shut sufficient to the U.S. mainland, intelligence officers have lengthy been involved about gear being pre-positioned — both on land or on ships at sea — within the occasion Israel or the U.S. struck Iran.
