***Portion added by Mary Chastain at 12:24 PM ET
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt refuted the ABC News story claiming that the FBI warned California about possible strikes from Iranian drones:
This post and story should be immediately retracted by ABC News for providing false information to intentionally alarm the American people.They wrote this based on one email that was sent to local law enforcement in California about a single, unverified tip. The email even states the tip was based on *unverified* intelligence. Yet ABC News left out this critical fact in their story! WHY?TO BE CLEAR: No such threat from Iran to our homeland exists, and it never did.
***Original Post by Leslie
A memo issued by the FBI recently warned police departments in California that Iran could retaliate for American attacks by launching drones at the West Coast.
Tehran was looking at deploying unmanned aircraft on the region as the country reels after the US wiped out its Supreme Leader last month, the alert said.The Bureau said in early February agents had intelligence that drones could be sent from an unidentified vessel off the American coastline.California has the highest concentration of Iranian dissidents in the US — up to 500,000 — but it is not clear if that was why the state could be targeted.The FBI alert said: “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.”
It appears that a source with knowledge of the memo indicated that the warning was issued based on intelligence received by the U.S. Coast Guard. However, currently, officials do not view that threat as credible.
The source is experienced in counterterrorism and said “that it’s not been deemed credible at this time.”The sources stressed that the warning was cautionary and there was no indication Iran was planning an attack or that it could successfully launch one.But the warning played into security strategies that local and national authorities enacted after the war began.One official told The Times the memo was one of several daily updates received and distributed by law enforcement and emergency response agencies.
Experts in military tactics are doubtful that Iran could effectively launch a drone to attack a West Coast target, but they cannot discount a unit being pre-staged in the event of a US attack.
Iranian ships could theoretically get closer, but it is unlikely, as they would first have to pass near any of the many military bases the U.S. has around the world, including throughout Pacific Ocean countries and military bases in Hawaii.Iran does not have large aircraft carrier ships like the U.S. or U.K., but reportedly utilizes the IRIS Shahid Bagheri, a converted container ship, and the IRINS Makran, a converted oil tanker, to carry and hold its drones at sea.Both ships were reportedly damaged during strikes by U.S. military forces during Operation Epic Fury, according to the BBC….However, according to the ABC News report, intelligence officials have long expressed concern about Iranian equipment being pre-positioned for an attack, either on land or on ships, in the event of a U.S. or Israeli attack on Iran.
The state’s Office of Emergency Services is on alert, however.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office told ABC News: “The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is actively working with state, local and federal security officials to protect our communities.”And the LA Sheriff’s Department said that “in light of current global events” it is maintaining an “elevated level of readiness.””Out of an abundance of caution, and in recognition of current religious observances, the Department has continued increased patrols around places of worship, cultural institutions, and other prominent locations throughout the County,” the department said in a statement.”We have proactively reviewed our deployment plans, enhanced coordination with our patrol stations, and ensured that additional resources are available should they be needed.”
While this is a concerning development, most Americans are not in a panic. There have also been a few wry comments directed at my state.
Others have noted that with our governor’s astonishing record of failure, no Iranian weapon is needed.
And it appears Newsom is using this development to attack President Donald Trump…yet, again.
Reflecting upon this news, I will note that while the FBI memo might be more cautionary than credible, it’s a revealing snapshot of how strained global politics now intersect with domestic dysfunction.
Californians are used to living with earthquakes, wildfires, and power outages, so the prospect of Iranian drones barely registers on the Richter scale of anxiety. Still, while Newsom postures and Washington reassures, it’s the local law enforcement officers quietly doing their jobs who keep the state truly protected.
In the end, Californians don’t need Tehran’s drones to feel under siege …Sacramento’s policies have already done a remarkable job of that.
Image by perplexity.ai.
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