Breaking: FBI Quietly Warns California Police of Iranian Plans for Retaliatory Attack
Federal authorities are raising alarms about a possible Iranian retaliation targeting the American West Coast, warning that Tehran may consider unconventional attacks against the United States homeland in response to recent military action in the Middle East.
According to a bulletin issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and reviewed by ABC News, law enforcement agencies across California were alerted to intelligence suggesting Iran has contemplated a surprise drone strike launched from offshore waters.
The warning is tied to the possibility of retaliation following Operation Epic Fury, a military campaign in which the United States—under the leadership of Donald J. Trump in his second term as president—carried out coordinated strikes alongside Israel against Iranian targets in the Middle East.
In the alert distributed to authorities in late February, federal officials described troubling intelligence regarding Iran’s potential intentions.
“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, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran,” the notice stated.
Officials emphasized that while the intelligence raised concerns, details remain limited.
“We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack.”
The bulletin underscores ongoing concerns among national security officials that Tehran could pursue asymmetric retaliation against American interests rather than direct military confrontation.
The alert surfaced just as the Trump administration authorized strikes on Iranian assets during the joint operation with Israel—an effort intended to deter aggression and protect U.S. allies in the region.
Meanwhile, federal investigators are also monitoring a separate and potentially serious threat: the activation of Iranian sleeper cells operating abroad.
According to reporting from ABC News, U.S. intelligence agencies recently intercepted encrypted communications believed to have originated inside Iran. Officials believe the message could function as “an operational trigger” designed to activate “sleeper assets” positioned outside the country.
The encrypted transmission reportedly traveled across multiple countries shortly after the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, heightening concerns that Tehran may be preparing contingency responses through covert networks.
Investigators say the message was encoded so that only specific recipients with the proper decryption key could access it. Once decoded, the communication could relay instructions directly to “clandestine recipients” and “covert operatives or sleeper assets.”
Significantly, the system appears designed to bypass modern digital surveillance tools. Authorities believe the communication method allows instructions to move without relying on the internet or cellular networks, making detection far more difficult.
Security officials say the warnings illustrate the evolving tactics used by hostile regimes and reinforce the importance of maintaining strong intelligence and counterterrorism capabilities on American soil.
As tensions between Washington and Tehran escalate, federal and state agencies remain on heightened alert for any signs that Iran or its proxies may attempt retaliation against U.S. targets.