MEXICO CITY.- This Wednesday, the ABC News television network reported that it reviewed an alert in which it was stated that, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned California police departments that Iran could retaliate for US attacks by launching drones against the West Coast.
“We recently obtained information that in early February 2026, Iran reportedly intended to conduct a surprise UAV attack from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the United States carried out attacks against Iran,” according to the alert distributed in late February. “We have no additional information regarding the timing, method, target or perpetrators of this alleged attack.”
When asked about the issue, a spokeswoman for the FBI office in Los Angeles declined to comment. The White House also did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ABC News.
However, police sources with experience in antiterrorism clarified to the newspaper Los Angeles Times that the alert, although based on data from the Coast Guardlacks credible information about an imminent attack and corresponds to a routine preventive warning.
Alert for attacks by Mexican cartels
ABC News noted that U.S. intelligence officials have also expressed concern in recent months about the growing use of drones on the part of the Mexican drug cartels and the possibility that the technology could be used to attack US forces and personnel near the border with Mexico.
“An uncorroborated report suggested that unidentified Mexican cartel leaders had authorized explosives-laden (drone) attacks against U.S. law enforcement and military personnel along the U.S.-Mexico border,” ABC News says, citing a September 2025 newsletter.
“This type of attack against US personnel or interests within the United States would be unprecedented, but exemplifies a possible scenario, although (cartels) usually avoid actions that generate unwanted attention or responses from US authorities.”
John CohenABC News contributor and former intelligence chief of the Department of Homeland Securityexpressed to the media his concern about the possibility of a war with drones coming from both the Pacific and Mexico.
“We know that Iran has a large presence in Mexico and South America, it has relationships, it has drones and now it has the incentive to carry out attacks,” Cohen said. “The FBI is acting intelligently in issuing this warning so that states and municipalities can better prepare and respond to these types of threats. Information like this is crucial for law enforcement agencies.”
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