FBI shares intelligence on alleged Iran-linked UAV plans targeting California

Federal authorities have alerted officials in the US state of California to unverified claims that Iranian-affiliated actors may be seeking to conduct potential drone attacks, Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed at a press conference on March 11, adding that there is currently no “imminent threat.”

According to several officials familiar with the matter, a memo circulated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to local law enforcement contained unvetted and unverified information intended for awareness, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

“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 States Homeland,” part of the memo reads, “specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran.”

Federal investigators often share information of questioned credibility with local law enforcement partners out of an abundance of caution. One law enforcement source said federal and state security officials have deemed the information to be “aspirational” in nature and do not currently believe there is an imminent threat.

A law enforcement official added that the US intelligence community routinely collects intelligence on adversaries signaling their desire to cause harm, but that mere claims do not necessarily indicate the capability to carry out an attack. Such reports are shared with local law enforcement “daily,” the source said.

Newsom said on March 11 that “drone issues have been top of mind and we’ve assembled some work groups specifically around those concerns.”

In a post on social media, the governor said he is “in constant coordination with security and intelligence officials” over potential threats to California, “including those tied to the conflict in the Middle East.”

“While we are not aware of any imminent threats at this time, we remain prepared for any emergency in our state,” Newsom wrote.

By Sabina Mammadli