Iran Wanted To Strike California With Attack Drones, FBI Warned

The FBI warned California police departments that Iran sought to strike targets in the state with attack drones if a war between the countries effectively began, according to a new report

ABC News detailed the alert was distributed in late February, right when the U.S. and Israel struck Iran for the first time. It did not specify targets or timing.

"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," reads a passage of the alert.

John Cohen, a contributor for the outlet and former head of intelligence for the Department of Homeland Security, said he is concerned about drone warfare both from the pacific and Mexico.

"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.

The outlet also reported on Tuesday that the U.S. intercepted encrypted communications believed to be coming from Iran, and could potentially be activating sleeper cells around the world.

A different federal government alert sent to law enforcement agencies detailed that the communications could be serving as an "operational trigger" for "sleeper assets." The messages can be deciphered by "clandestine recipients" with the encryption key and without the need for internet or cellphones.

The communications began being issued shortly after the U.S. and Israel conducted the first strikes against the Tehran regime, which ended up killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"While the exact contents of these transmissions cannot currently be determined, the sudden appearance of a new station with international rebroadcast characteristics warrants heightened situational awareness," reads a passage of the alert.