Federal authorities have warned California authorities that Iran could be planning a “surprise” drone attack against the West Coast in retaliation for US military strikes.
However, authorities confirm that there is no credible intelligence information that authenticates the threat.
The warning was disseminated through a confidential memo distributed to agencies within the federal Joint Terrorism Task Force.
According to the document reviewed by several media outlets, “Iran allegedly aimed to carry out a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified ship off the coast of the United States, specifically against unspecified targets in California.”
The warning came as the war entered its twelfth day.
The memo noted that the intelligence was obtained in early February, anticipating Iranian retaliation “in the event that the United States carried out attacks against Iran.”
However, the Los Angeles Times reported that law enforcement sources familiar with the assessment confirmed that the warning is preventive in nature and is not based on credible or authentic intelligence.
The threat, however, has sparked renewed concerns about the possibility of drone warfare reaching American soil.
John Cohen, former head of intelligence at the Department of Homeland Security, said Iran’s presence in Mexico and South America is significant, and with their drone capabilities and current level of motivation, they are a threat worth monitoring.
