Trending Now - FBI Issues Alerts Over Potential Iran-linked Drone Threats
WHO:
President Donald Trump, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, California Governor Gavin Newsom, FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson, former Department of Homeland Security official Tom Warrick, Michael Eisenstadt from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Joint Terrorism Task Force, California law enforcement agencies including police departments in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and Berkeley.
WHAT:
The FBI issued an alert regarding a potential Iranian drone attack on California, based on unverified intelligence.
The alert indicated that Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from an unidentified vessel off the U.S. coast.
The alert was marked as “law enforcement sensitive” and “NOT FOR DISSEMINATION TO THE PUBLIC OR PRESS.”
The alert was sent out to local law enforcement agencies as a precautionary measure.
WHERE:
California, specifically targeting unspecified locations within the state.
The alert referenced a potential launch from a vessel off the coast of the United States.
WHEN:
The FBI alert was reported on March 11, 2026.
The alert was based on intelligence acquired as of early February 2026.
U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28, 2026.
WHY:
The alert was issued out of an abundance of caution due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and potential Iranian retaliation.
The White House stated that no credible threat from Iran to the U.S. homeland existed.
HOW:
The alert was based on intercepted communications suggesting that Iranian actors discussed the possibility of launching a drone attack.
The FBI distributed the alert through federal security channels to local law enforcement agencies for situational awareness.
(UPDATED March 14, 2026 05:23 UTC)
Today, the FBI issued an alert regarding a potential Iranian drone attack on California, based on unverified intelligence suggesting that Iran may be planning a surprise strike using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the U.S. coast. This alert, marked as "law enforcement sensitive" and not for public dissemination, was sent to local law enforcement agencies as a precautionary measure following the recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. While the White House emphasized that there is currently no credible threat from Iran to the U.S. homeland, the alert was prompted by intercepted communications indicating discussions of a possible drone attack.