FBI Bulletin Warns Iran Considered Possible Drone Strike on California
A rocket trail is seen in the sky over Israel. (Jack Guez / AFP/Getty Images)
A recently circulated FBI bulletin reviewed by ABC News indicates that U.S. authorities briefly examined the possibility that Iran could consider an attack targeting California. The notice, sent quietly to law enforcement agencies in the state toward the end of last month, said Iran was believed to have considered retaliatory action if the United States carried out a strike against it.
According to the alert, intelligence obtained in early February 2026 suggested Iran might attempt a surprise operation involving unmanned aerial vehicles launched from an unidentified vessel positioned off the U.S. coastline. The document stated that the potential targets would be somewhere in California, though it emphasized that investigators did not have further details about when such an attack might occur, how it would be carried out, who would be involved, or what specific locations might be targeted.
Officials declined to expand on the warning publicly. The FBI’s Los Angeles field office did not comment, and the White House also chose not to address the report. When questioned by reporters, President Trump said he was not worried about the possibility of an Iranian strike on American soil.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the alert appears to have originated from intelligence gathered by the U.S. Coast Guard. However, sources familiar with the matter said there is currently no solid evidence confirming a planned attack.
Even so, some security experts say issuing the warning was reasonable. John Cohen, who previously served as the Department of Homeland Security’s intelligence chief, told ABC News that Iran has the capability and potential motivation to conduct such operations. He noted that Iran maintains networks and relationships in parts of Mexico and South America and has access to drone technology.
California officials say they are aware of the information. During a Wednesday press conference, Governor Gavin Newsom said the state had already been monitoring concerns related to possible drone activity. He explained that California has been coordinating through its State Operations Center, which was established after the war began, and that officials have been sharing any relevant intelligence with local partners. Newsom added that he did not have additional details beyond what had already been publicly reported.
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