The FBI warned police departments in California that retaliatory drone attacks from Iran could be a threat to the West Coast, according to a Wednesday report from ABC News. The warning comes as the president continues to escalate the American-Israeli offensive against Iranian infrastructure and military assets.
“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 [sic] Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran,” the alert obtained by ABC News says. “We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack.”
A source with knowledge of the memo told the Los Angeles Times that the report was based on intelligence received by the U.S. Coast Guard. Iranian drones and munitions are generally not considered to be capable of reaching the mainland United States, as the coast of California is over 12,000 miles away from Iran, far beyond the maximum estimated range of most drone models operated by Iranian forces.
Lots of military bases out on the coast though, and some very important shipping infrastructure. Shoot, the US seems to think we can just remove leaders all over the place, why shouldn’t Iran? Bet a lot of very wealthy people have vacation homes out there.*
I would hope that an attack on any target like those would trigger additional outrage at the unnecessary nature of the whole conflict, not bring California in line with the trump administration. But who is to say how people react, hasn’t been an attack on the US continent in many many years. I could cynically imagine Newsom doing a 9/11 style pivot into a presidential bid, though I have a hard time imagining it working.
*In my preferred solution, the US backs off and stops killing people