A warning that Iran plans to attack California with drones has been refuted by multiple national and state officials.
The warning originated with the FBI, which in recent days alerted police departments in California of impending Iranian drone attacks along the West Coast, according to ABC News.
“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 States Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran,” the alert read.
“We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack,” it continued.
🚨BREAKING: FBI intelligence warns police in California of Iran inspired attacks by suicide drones from vessels off the west coast.
Democrats need to stop fucking around and fund DHS before Americans find out and die. pic.twitter.com/lJE7oN0QFY
— Dapper Detective (@Dapper_Det) March 11, 2026
Speaking with the New York Post after the alert was issued, former U.S. Army intelligence and special operations soldier Brett Velicovich stressed how serious the threat was.
“We’re extremely vulnerable to drone attacks,” he said. “We’re not prepared for this. These are long-range, one-way attack drones that are extremely capable and can be sent in swarms.”
“You don’t even need a human anywhere near this. You can launch these things over Starlink from a boat 1,000 miles away,” he added.
ABC News contributor John Cohen, the former head of intelligence for the Department of Homeland Security, praised the FBI for the alert.
“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,” he said in a statement.
“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,” he added.
Late Wednesday afternoon, however, CBS News senior White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs revealed that “law enforcement and intel officials” were rebutting the FBI’s alert:
🚨Multiple US and state law enforcement and intel officials told @CBSNews there is no credible intelligence underpinning the bulletin distributed on the unverified possibility that Iran could retaliate for American attacks by launching drones at the West Coast. “This is not… https://t.co/gcdUBdgDX6
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) March 11, 2026
“Multiple US and state law enforcement and intel officials told @CBSNews there is no credible intelligence underpinning the bulletin distributed on the unverified possibility that Iran could retaliate for American attacks by launching drones at the West Coast,” she revealed in a tweet.
“This is not actionable,” a California-based federal law enforcement official told her colleague Nicole Sganga.
“All this means is we got this information, and we want to get it out to law enforcement executives to make sure they’re up to speed on it,” another California law enforcement official said. “There is absolutely nothing more to it.”
Evidently, the bulletin was related to a tip that came in before the U.S.’s excursion into Iran began.
Despite this, California is taking zero risks.
“The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is actively working with state, local, and federal security officials to protect our communities,” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office told ABC News.
“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 Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department added.
“We have proactively reviewed our deployment plans, enhanced coordination with our patrol stations, and ensured that additional resources are available should they be needed,” the department concluded.
All this comes amid an uptick in concern over the expanding use of drone technology by Mexican drug cartels.
“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,” an FBI bulletin from September reads.
“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,” it continues.
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V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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