The FBI warned California police departments in recent days that Iran could retaliate for US attacks by launching drones into the West Coast, according to an alert reviewed by ABC News.
"We have recently received information that since early February 2026, Iran is suspected of intending to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the United States were to conduct strikes against Iran," according to the alert distributed in late February, it reads. ABC News, the Telegraph reports.
"We have no additional information on the timing, method, target or perpetrators of this suspected attack."
The warning came just as the Trump administration launched its ongoing offensive against the Islamic Republic.
And Iran has retaliated with drone attacks against targets across the Middle East.
As the media outlet in question writes, a spokeswoman for the FBI's Los Angeles office declined to comment.
The White House also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
However, this medium highlights, US intelligence officials have also been concerned in recent months about the increasing use of drones by Mexican drug cartels and the possibility that the technology could be used to attack US forces and personnel near the Mexican border.
"An unconfirmed report suggested that unidentified Mexican cartel leaders had authorized attacks using UAS (drones) carrying explosives against law enforcement and U.S. military personnel along the U.S.-Mexico border," according to a September 2025 bulletin reviewed by ABC News.
"This type of attack against American personnel or interests within the United States would be unprecedented, but it illustrates a plausible scenario, although (the cartels) typically avoid actions that would result in unwanted attention or response from American authorities."
ABC News contributor John Cohen, the former head of intelligence for the Department of Homeland Security, said he is concerned about the possibility of drone warfare that could come from both the Pacific and Mexico.
"We know that Iran has a large presence in Mexico and South America, they have relationships, they have drones, and now they have the incentive to carry out attacks," Cohen said. "The FBI is smart to issue this warning so that the state and the local community are better able to prepare and respond to these types of threats. Information like this is extremely important to law enforcement."
While the FBI warning did not specify how or when ships carrying attack drones could get close enough to the US mainland, intelligence officials have long been concerned about devices being pre-deployed either on land or on ships at sea - in case Israel or the US were to strike Iran.Telegrafi/
