The FBI has quietly alerted California law enforcement that Iran allegedly plotted a drone strike on the West Coast in response to potential US military action on Iranian soil.
According to The Post Millennial, an FBI bulletin circulated in late February and obtained by ABC News stated, "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 State Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran. We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack." The warning came just before the United States launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran on February 28, a campaign that has continued since.
The FBIs concerns are not limited to Tehran, as a September 2025 bulletin raised alarms over Mexican cartels potentially deploying weaponized drones against Americans near the southern border. "An uncorroborated report suggested that unidentified Mexican cartel leaders had authorized attacks using UAS (drones) carrying explosives against US law enforcement and US military personnel along the US-Mexico border," that earlier notice stated.
"This type of attack against US personnel or interests inside the United States would be unprecedented but exemplifies a plausible scenario, although (cartels) typically avoid actions that would result in unwanted attention or responses from US authorities." The prospect of foreign adversaries and transnational criminal organizations exploiting drone technology underscores the vulnerability created by lax border enforcement and years of downplaying security threats.
Former DHS intelligence chief and ABC News contributor John Cohen warned of the broader strategic picture, saying, "We know Iran has an extensive presence in Mexico and South America, they have relationships, they have the drones and now they have the incentive to conduct attacks. The FBI is smart for putting this warning out so that state and locals can be better able to prepare and respond to these types of threats. Information like this is critically important for law enforcement."
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