FBI warned California law enforcement of potential Iranian drone attacks before U.S. strikes, as Trump, Newsom play down imminent threat
The FBI warned law enforcement agencies last month that Tehran could attempt surprise drone attacks in California if the United States struck Iran, according to a security bulletin seen by Reuters. The alert surfaced publicly Wednesday as U.S. and Israeli bombardments of Iran, which began Feb. 28, drove the conflict into a 12th day and rattled energy markets.
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The confidential bulletin, distributed through the Los Angeles Joint Regional Intelligence Center, indicated the scenario was under consideration before hostilities erupted. It cited FBI information that as of early February Iran “allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles” launched from a sea vessel against targets in California “in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran.”
The advisory said the bureau had no additional information on the timing, method, target or potential perpetrators. The FBI declined to comment on the document.
Asked at the White House on Wednesday whether he was concerned Iran might escalate retaliation to include strikes on U.S. soil, President Donald Trump said, “No, I’m not,” speaking before ABC News first reported the existence of the FBI bulletin.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state was not aware of any “imminent threats,” while noting California has elevated its posture since the conflict began. “We are in constant coordination with security and intelligence officials to monitor potential threats to California — including those tied to the conflict in the Middle East,” Newsom posted on X. “While we are not aware of any imminent threats at this time, we remain prepared for any emergency in our state.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said her office and the Los Angeles Police Department are coordinating closely with state and federal partners. “At this time, there is no specific or credible threat to Los Angeles,” she said.
The war intensified rapidly after U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted Iran, killing the country’s supreme leader and other top officials, according to Iranian state announcements cited in earlier reporting. Iran has since launched missile and drone attacks against Israel and several Gulf states that host U.S. forces. Several U.S. soldiers were killed on the second day of the war in an attack on a base in Kuwait.
The conflict has widened regional risk. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has sought to disrupt vital oil shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing up global fossil fuel prices, while exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah in and around Beirut have raised fears of a broader confrontation.
Inside the United States, authorities have warned of potential, targeted plots but say a large-scale attack is unlikely. A Department of Homeland Security threat assessment said Iran and its proxies “probably” pose a threat of targeted attacks on U.S. interests, according to earlier Reuters reporting.
California officials emphasized that the FBI bulletin was one of many routine intelligence updates shared with state partners. Still, the alert underscores the way battlefield decisions in the Middle East can quickly reverberate across U.S. domestic security planning — especially along the Pacific coast, where port and energy infrastructure, defense installations, and dense urban centers present a wide set of potential targets.
As the war enters a volatile phase, U.S. officials are urging situational awareness without public alarm. The FBI bulletin offered no specific targeting details, but its prewar timing highlights how contingency planning is now colliding with fast-moving events, from oil chokepoints in the Strait of Hormuz to stepped-up patrols on the California coast.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
