FBI Warns Iran Allegedly Aspires to Drone Attack California, SF Agencies Respond

An FBI bulletin circulated to California law enforcement warns that Iran allegedly aspired to launch a surprise drone attack on the state from an unidentified vessel positioned off the U.S. coastline, triggering a coordinated response from Bay Area agencies that say no specific threat to the region has been identified.

The bulletin, reviewed by ABC News and first reported publicly on March 11, states: "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 FBI immediately qualified its own warning, adding: "We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack."

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie moved quickly to reassure residents. "We have been in constant communication with our state and federal partners who have assured us there are no imminent threats to us here in San Francisco," Lurie said late Wednesday. Bay Area police and sheriff's departments, contacted by ABC7, confirmed they are in constant contact with state and federal partners and stated there is no specific intelligence indicating any threat to the Bay Area. This marks the first FBI alert ABC7 has reported that specifically mentions the potential use of drones in connection with Bay Area-related threats.

At the state level, Governor Gavin Newsom said he was aware of the apparent threat and confirmed that when hostilities began, he activated the state emergency operations center. Newsom directed the California Office of Emergency Services to elevate its security posture. "Drone issues have always been top of mind," the governor said. The FBI bulletin was distributed to California agencies participating in the Bureau's Joint Terrorism Task Force, according to KTVU.

Law enforcement sources characterized the underlying intelligence as "uncorroborated" and "cautionary," noting there is currently no evidence Iran has the capability or active plans to execute such an operation from a vessel in the Pacific. The Los Angeles Times reported there was no credible intelligence to support the threat.

A separate Department of Homeland Security assessment from February concluded that Iran and its proxies "probably" pose a threat in the U.S., but that a large-scale attack is unlikely. Iran has used drones to strike American facilities and allies in the Middle East during the ongoing conflict, though retaliation has not extended to the U.S. homeland. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is not fearful of an attack on U.S. soil.

The timeline of the bulletin's circulation carries its own ambiguity. Some outlets place the distribution to law enforcement at the end of February, while others note the exact date the FBI sent the alert remains unclear. What is confirmed is that the FBI acquired the underlying intelligence in early February 2026, and the bulletin's contents were not reported publicly until March 11. Whether federal agencies have since developed any corroborating intelligence, or whether maritime and coastal agencies have adjusted their operational posture in response, has not been disclosed.