FBI Memo Warns of Possible Iran Drone Strike on California—but Intelligence Deemed Unverified
Law enforcement agencies throughout California recently received a warning that the Iran war could potentially trigger a surprise drone strike in the state. However, sources said Wednesday that no credible intelligence currently supports the possibility.
A federal memo warned California agencies about a possible Iran drone attack scenario, though officials say the intelligence remains unverified and not credible.
The alert came through a memo distributed to agencies participating in a federal Joint Terrorism Task Force. According to the document, authorities obtained information indicating that as of early February 2026 Iran allegedly hoped to carry out a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles launched from an unidentified vessel positioned off the U.S. coastline.
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The memo said the hypothetical operation would target unspecified locations in California if the United States launched strikes against Iran.
A source familiar with the document, who was not authorized to discuss it publicly, said the warning stemmed from intelligence gathered by the U.S. Coast Guard. Officials with experience in intelligence analysis explained that such notices are often precautionary.
The counterterrorism source added that the intelligence referenced in the memo “has not been deemed credible at this time.”
Sources emphasized that the notice was issued as a precaution and that authorities have no indication Iran is planning an attack or possesses the capability to successfully carry one out.
Even so, the warning aligned with security measures implemented by local and national authorities after the conflict began.
On Thursday, Ben Williamson, the FBI’s assistant director of public affairs, acknowledged the memo’s existence in a social media post and shared a screenshot of the alert circulated among joint terrorism task force partners.
In his message, Williamson criticized some coverage of the document, stressing that the notice itself stated the intelligence was unverified.
One official said the memo was part of several daily updates routinely distributed among law enforcement and emergency response organizations.
The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment and directed questions to the FBI.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom confirmed his office had seen the reports about the potential for drone attacks and said the information had been passed along to local agencies.
“Drone issues have been top of mind and we’ve assembled some work groups specifically around those concerns,” Newsom said.
The governor also noted he has not spoken with President Trump regarding the potential threat.
Following the launch of strikes against Iran by the United States and Israel on Feb. 28, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Homeland Security Division increased its security posture.
A spokesperson for the office said coordination among agencies takes place daily to maintain public safety, though sensitive operational details cannot be disclosed.
“California is prepared to protect its communities, and we’ll continue working closely with our federal partners,” the statement said.
State officials declined to discuss the memo further but confirmed that state, local and federal authorities continuously exchange information about security threats.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department also avoided addressing the document directly, though officials said the agency remains at an elevated level of readiness and is maintaining heightened vigilance.
While the specific method of a potential drone strike on California remains uncertain, unmanned aircraft have crossed into U.S. airspace before and have been intercepted, though none have posed a physical threat.
In February 2023, the United States shot down a Chinese spy balloon, an incident that heightened tensions between the two countries. China insisted the balloon was conducting meteorological research and had drifted accidentally into U.S. territory.
U.S. military leaders have also reported thousands of unmanned aircraft incursions along the U.S.-Mexico border. In 2024, Air Force Gen. Gregory M. Guillot told the Senate Armed Services Committee the number of incidents was concerning, noting that many were likely connected to drug and human trafficking groups using drones.
Globally, drones have become increasingly central to modern warfare. The Defense Department has described them as the newest “weapon of choice on the battlefield.”
Efforts to counter such technology are expanding as well. In Arizona, the U.S. Army recently tested a 30-millimeter explosive round designed for Apache helicopters that detonates in front of drones to destroy them.
Earlier this year, U.S. lawmakers criticized the Department of Defense after reports that a Customs and Border Protection drone had been shot down using what was described as a “high risk counter-unmanned aircraft system.”
