FBI warns California that Iran could try to attack West Coast with drones in retaliation for war
Iran has not attacked the U.S. mainland since conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran broke out late last month, but it has attacked American military bases in the Middle East, killing at least seven U.S. service members so far.
The FBI warned several California police departments recently that Iran could target the West Coast with drone attacks as part of its retaliation campaign for the conflict in the Middle East.
Iran has not attacked the U.S. mainland since conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran broke out late last month, but it has attacked American military bases in the Middle East, killing at least seven U.S. service members so far.
The FBI notified California of the potential attacks in an alert obtained by ABC News, which was sent out in late February.
“We recently acquired information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran,” the alert reads. “We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack.”
The FBI has not commented on the alert so far but California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's office told the outlet that its Emergency Services office is working with "state, local and federal security officials to protect our communities.”