FBI Alert Warned California Police of Potential Iranian Drone Attack on West Coast
The FBI reportedly issued a warning to California police departments in February, indicating that Iran might retaliate against the United States by conducting drone strikes targeting the West Coast. This alert, viewed by ABC News, was distributed towards the end of February and highlighted intelligence suggesting Iran's aspirations for a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles launched from an unidentified vessel off the US coast.
Details of the FBI Warning
According to the alert, the FBI had acquired information as of early February 2026 that Iran allegedly planned to execute a drone attack against unspecified targets in California if the US conducted strikes against Iran. The FBI emphasized that it had no additional details regarding the timing, method, specific targets, or perpetrators of this alleged attack. It remains unclear exactly when the alert was sent to police departments, but the US began carrying out strikes on Iran on February 28.
The FBI and its Los Angeles field office declined to comment on the matter. Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed in a press conference on Wednesday that the state was aware of potential drone threats and had already shared this information with local partners through the State Operations Center. Newsom stated that drone issues are always a top priority, with work groups specifically assembled to address these concerns.
Mixed Responses and Downplayed Threats
Oakland police officers informed the San Francisco Chronicle that they had been in contact with federal partners who warned of a heightened risk due to conflicts in the Middle East. They are maintaining close coordination with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. However, a person familiar with the memo downplayed the credibility of the threat to the Los Angeles Times, noting that the warning was based on intelligence from the US Coast Guard and was cautionary without concrete indications of an imminent attack.
Broader Context and Presidential Remarks
Since the US launched attacks on Iran, resulting in the death of former Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran has retaliated with strikes against US military bases in the Middle East but not on the US homeland. A February threat assessment by the Office of Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security, obtained by Reuters, determined that Iran and its proxies probably pose a threat to the US, though a large-scale attack was deemed unlikely.
When asked on Wednesday if he feared an attack on US soil, President Donald Trump responded, "No, I'm not." The president has maintained that the attacks on Iran are part of a temporary military operation aimed at destabilizing the Iranian military and preventing attacks on neighboring countries. So far, Iran has retaliated against Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan, and others.
