U.S. federal authorities have reportedly warned law enforcement agencies in California about the possibility of an Iranian retaliation attack involving drones launched from vessels positioned off the West Coast. The alert comes as tensions continue to escalate following recent military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, which have pushed the Gulf region into a wider conflict. According to reporting cited by ABC News, the warning was circulated in a bulletin distributed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to local police departments.
The FBI alert stated that intelligence gathered earlier suggested Iran may have considered launching a surprise drone attack against the United States homeland from an unidentified ship operating near the California coastline. The potential plan reportedly involved unmanned aerial vehicles targeting unspecified locations in the state in the event of direct U.S. military action against Iran. Authorities noted that the information was based on intelligence obtained in early February 2026 and that investigators do not currently have details about the timing, method, specific targets, or individuals who might carry out such an operation.
Despite the warning, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters he is not concerned about possible Iranian retaliation on American soil. When asked about the potential threat, Trump responded that he was not worried about the possibility of attacks within the United States. His comments come as Washington and Tehran remain locked in an escalating confrontation following joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets nearly two weeks ago. Those strikes reportedly killed several senior Iranian officials, including the country’s supreme leader, triggering a wave of retaliatory actions by Tehran across the Middle East.
Officials in California say they are monitoring the situation closely. A spokesperson for the office of California Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed that the state has heightened its security posture since the beginning of the conflict. According to the governor’s office, the California Office of Emergency Services is working closely with federal, state, and local security partners to review intelligence updates and ensure preparedness. The spokesperson described the FBI bulletin as one of many routine security updates that state authorities receive from federal agencies.
Security analysts note that Iran has increasingly relied on drones as a strategic weapon in conflicts across the Middle East. Iranian-made drones have been used in attacks targeting ships, military installations, embassies, and infrastructure throughout the region. A threat assessment prepared by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis reportedly concluded that Iran and its affiliated proxy groups likely pose a risk of targeted attacks against the United States, although officials believe the chances of a large-scale attack remain low. In response to the growing drone threat, several countries facing Iranian drone activity have sought assistance from Ukraine, which has developed significant experience countering similar systems during its ongoing war with Russia.
