The FBI learned in early February, and subsequently warned California police departments, that Iran may retaliate to potential US military action against the Islamic regime in Tehran by launching drone attacks on the US’s West Coast, ABC News reported on Wednesday, citing an alert from the bureau.
"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,” the alert seen by ABC read.
FBI: Iran wanted to target California
The alert went on to note that the attacks would specifically target sites in California in the event of US military action, as the US went on to launch Operation Epic Fury in late February.
"We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack," the alert concluded.
Since the start of the war with the initiation of US Operation Epic Fury and Israeli Operation Roaring Lion, Iran's missile and drone capacity has been sharply reduced by persistent airstrikes on Tehran's military assets.
On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Iran's ballistic missile attacks had been reduced by over 90% and its drone attacks were down by around 85%.
Furthermore, among the Iranian naval assets destroyed during the war was a "major drone carrier ship," Leavitt said.
This is a developing story.