FBI warned California of possible Iranian drone attack before strikes: Report

The FBI issued a warning to California law enforcement agencies in late February regarding the possibility of an Iranian drone attack launched from a vessel off the West Coast, according to a report by ABC News citing an alert reviewed by the outlet. The warning came before the US-Israeli joint attack on Iran that began Feb. 28, suggesting American authorities were anticipating potential Iranian retaliation even before the current offensive commenced.

Limited intelligence on potential attack

The FBI alert indicated that Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a drone attack against unspecified targets in California if the United States struck Iran, but noted that authorities had "no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators." An FBI spokeswoman in Los Angeles declined to comment on the report, leaving questions about the alert's specifics and any subsequent investigative actions unanswered.

Iran denies seeking to target US homeland

Despite the warning, Iranian officials have consistently maintained that Tehran does not seek to target the US homeland. Iranian authorities have stated they deliberately limited their missile range to below 2,000 kilometers and have no plans to develop weapons capable of reaching American soil. The claim suggests Iran is attempting to signal restraint even as it conducts extensive retaliatory strikes against US assets throughout the Middle East.

Conflict continues with mounting casualties

The reported FBI warning underscores the far-reaching implications of the US-Israeli campaign against Iran, which has killed more than 1,200 people including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, while eight American service members have been killed since the campaign began. The possibility of attacks reaching the US homeland, however remote, represents a significant escalation in the conflict's potential scope and has likely prompted heightened security preparations along the West Coast.