FBI Warns Iran May Have Considered Drone Attack on California as War Escalates
Federal authorities have warned that Iran may have explored launching a surprise drone attack against targets on the U.S. West Coast in retaliation for American military strikes, according to an intelligence bulletin reviewed by ABC News, highlighting growing fears that the expanding Middle East conflict could carry security risks inside the United States. The alert, circulated to law enforcement agencies in California, said intelligence obtained earlier this year suggested Tehran “aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel” positioned off the American coastline.
“We have no additional information on timing, method, target, or perpetrators.”
Threat Emerges Amid Intensifying Iran Conflict
The FBI warning comes as the U.S. military campaign against Iran continues and Iranian forces carry out drone strikes across the Middle East. According to the bulletin, the information dated back to early February 2026, before U.S. and Israeli bombardment operations began. Intelligence officials now believe the sustained strikes may have significantly degraded Iran’s ability to carry out long-range retaliatory attacks. Still, security agencies are taking the scenario seriously given Iran’s growing investment in drone warfare and asymmetric military tactics. A spokesperson for the FBI’s Los Angeles field office declined to comment publicly on the alert.
California Officials Increase Readiness
In response to global tensions, California authorities say they are coordinating closely with federal partners to prepare for potential threats. Officials in the office of Gavin Newsom said emergency services teams are working alongside state, local, and federal security agencies to safeguard communities. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed it has maintained an “elevated level of readiness,” increasing patrols around religious institutions, cultural centers, and high-visibility public locations.
“Out of an abundance of caution… we have enhanced coordination and ensured additional resources are available.”
Drone Warfare Concerns Extend Beyond Iran
U.S. intelligence officials have also expressed concern about the expanding use of armed drones by Mexican drug cartels and the possibility that similar tactics could be deployed near or across the southern border. A separate bulletin reviewed by ABC News cited an uncorroborated report suggesting cartel leaders may have authorized drone attacks carrying explosives against U.S. law enforcement or military personnel, an unprecedented but technically plausible scenario.
Security analysts say Iran’s global networks and relationships in parts of Latin America could further complicate the threat landscape. Former Department of Homeland Security intelligence chief John Cohen warned that Tehran’s incentive to retaliate, combined with its drone capabilities, makes advance warnings essential.
“We know Iran has relationships, they have the drones, and now they have the incentive.”
The Strategic Risk: War Without Borders
While officials stress there is no confirmed operational plan targeting California, the warning reflects a broader shift in modern warfare. Conflicts that once remained geographically contained increasingly spill into cyber space, commercial shipping routes, energy markets and potentially domestic security environments thousands of miles from the battlefield. Intelligence agencies have long feared that adversaries could pre-position equipment on land or at sea to enable rapid retaliation if hostilities escalate. For now, law enforcement agencies say preparedness, not panic, is the priority. But as tensions with Iran continue to rise, the possibility of unconventional attacks on U.S. soil is no longer viewed as theoretical.
