The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force issued a warning to California police departments in late February indicating that Iran had "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 warning was circulated to law enforcement agencies including the San Francisco Police Department, which stated it is "closely monitoring events in the Middle East and around the world" in coordination with local, state and federal partners. A counter-terrorism source cited by the Los Angeles Times described the threat as precautionary, noting it "has not been deemed credible at this time."
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic officials and progressive analysts have emphasized the seriousness of any credible threat to domestic security while calling for measured government response. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said his office was aware of the FBI's warning and has been "working collaboratively through the State Operation Center" established after the conflict in the Middle East began.
Newsom said his office is "working with the office of emergency services, but working locally to make sure we transmit any information that we have received" and noted that "drone issues have always been top of mind." He added he had "nothing more insightful beyond just what's been reported." Progressive commentators have noted that even unverified threats warrant heightened vigilance and coordination between federal and state agencies.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans have largely downplayed concerns about Iranian escalation, with President Trump telling reporters he was "not worried about Iran escalating its retaliatory attacks to include strikes on U.S. soil." The administration has maintained a assertive posture toward Iran following the February 28 joint U.S.-Israel strike, with Trump warning of striking Iran "20 times harder" if the Strait of Hormuz is closed.
Conservative commentators have pointed to the threat being deemed not credible as evidence that the administration deterred Iranian aggression. Some have criticized what they characterize as premature leak of law enforcement warnings, arguing such disclosures could alert adversaries to U.S. intelligence capabilities.
What the Numbers Show
Since the U.S. and Israel carried out a joint attack on Iran on February 28, retaliatory strikes from Iran have resulted in significant U.S. military casualties: six service members killed in Kuwait and one in Saudi Arabia. The Pentagon reported Tuesday that approximately 140 service members have been injured in the retaliatory attacks.
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz on March 1, a waterway through which nearly 20 percent of global oil and gasoline exports pass. The FBI warning was issued in late February, before Iran's closure of the strait, and specifically referenced potential无人机 attacks from an unidentified vessel off the California coast.
The Bottom Line
The FBI warning reflects ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran following months of retaliatory strikes in the Persian Gulf region. While authorities have not deemed the specific threat against California credible, the warning underscores the potential for Iranian retaliation to extend beyond regional targets. California's State Operation Center remains active, and law enforcement agencies continue monitoring the situation in coordination with federal partners. The Trump administration has indicated it believes Iranian military capacity has been significantly degraded, with the president stating Wednesday that "practically nothing left to target" remains in Iran following two weeks of airstrikes.