Overview
- ABC News reviewed the late‑February FBI alert, which said early‑February intelligence indicated Iran allegedly aspired to launch drones from an unidentified vessel against unspecified California targets if the U.S. struck Iran.
- Authorities said the memo contained no further details on timing, method, targets or actors, and multiple law‑enforcement sources described the intelligence as uncorroborated and not assessed as an imminent threat.
- Governor Gavin Newsom and California’s Office of Emergency Services said the state has elevated its security posture and is coordinating with federal and local partners.
- The warning comes after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28 and as officials track broader risks, including potential pre‑positioning of equipment and the expanding use of weaponized drones by Mexican cartels.
- A separate Daily Mail report alleged a broader FBI‑led intelligence product was initially blocked by the White House, a claim not corroborated in the other outlets’ reporting provided here.