California Drone Attack Threat Sparks Concern. Could It Really Happen?

It sounds like something out of a movie. Terrorists use a swarm of drones to attack the continental U.S. Actually, there was a movie about a fictional drone attack. It was called Angel Has Fallen and starred Gerard Butler.

But could a drone attack actually happen in real life? ABC News is reporting that the FBI sent out an alert to California police departments in "recent days" warning "that Iran could retaliate for American attacks by launching drones at the West Coast."

Here's what is known about the California drone attack threat. For starters, The Los Angeles Times reported that sources told the newspaper there is "no credible intelligence to support it."

The California Drone Attack Alert Warns That Iran 'Allegedly Aspired to Conduct a Surprise Attack Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles'

Although the possibility is real, that doesn't mean that Iran is currently capable of pulling off such an attack or that U.S. authorities wouldn't be able to stop it.

"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 February 2026 alert obtained by ABC News reads.

"We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack."

The Los Angeles Times also confirmed the existence of that memo, writing that it was "sent to agencies that are part of a federal Joint Terrorism Task Force." A source told The Times, though, that the warning was "cautionary" and "there was no indication Iran was planning an attack or that it could successfully launch one."

Governor Gavin Newsom Confirmed That He Was Aware of a Threat of Drone Strikes, But Declared the Concern Was Not Imminent

According to KTLA-TV, California Governor Gavin Newsom subsequently confirmed in a news conference that "he was aware of threats from Iran to attack areas of California with drone strikes. Newsom said his office has been transmitting that information to authorities."

However, Newsom wrote on Facebook that he doesn't consider the drone strike threat to be imminent. "I am in constant coordination with security and intelligence officials, including with California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, to monitor potential threats to California — including those tied to the conflict in the Middle East," wrote Newsom.

"While we are not aware of any imminent threats at this time, we remain prepared for any emergency in our state," he added.

“Drone issues have been top of mind and we’ve assembled some work groups specifically around those concerns,” Newsom said, according to The Los Angeles Times.

The Times added: "Though it’s unclear how Iran would attack California with a drone, incursions inside U.S. borders by unmanned aircraft have occurred and been defended against in the past." The newspaper cited the appearance of a Chinese spy balloon over the U.S. mainland in 2023 and intelligence indicating that "drug and human traffickers" were "using drones for their operations."

CBS News reported that the U.S. government "has sought to prevent malicious drone activity by drug cartels."

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