The FBI issued an alert in February warning of the risk
By Olivia Hebert, News Reporter Updated March 11, 2026 (SFGate.com)
FILE: A rendering of a MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle, also known as unmanned aircraft system, flying over the West Virginia coastline at sunset.Buena Vista Images/Getty Images
LATEST March 11, 2:30 p.m. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said officials are monitoring reports of an Iranian drone threat against the West Coast tied to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
In a statement, Lurie said city officials have been coordinating with state and federal agencies after an FBI alert surfaced, warning that Iran could retaliate against U.S. military action with drone strikes from an “unidentified vessel” stationed in an unknown and unconfirmed area off the coast of the United States.
“We are aware of the reports that were made public today, and 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. “As always, public safety is our No. 1 priority, and rest assured we are in constant communication with all of our public safety partners, and we will continue to monitor the situation, and we will always keep you posted.”
March 11, 12:30 p.m. Gov. Gavin Newsom confirmed federal authorities issued a warning of a potential drone strike in California from an Iranian offshore vessel and said state officials are collaborating with local law enforcement to protect residents.
Speaking at a news conference, Newsom confirmed that state officials had been alerted that Iran could potentially retaliate against recent U.S. military action in the Middle East
“We’ve been aware of that information,” Newsom said. “… Drone issues have always been top of mind, and we’ve assembled some work groups specifically around those concerns.”
Newsom said the State Operations Center is sharing information with local agencies through the state’s emergency coordination network, the Office of Emergency Services.
March 11, 11:50 a.m. Federal authorities recently warned law enforcement agencies in California that Iran could potentially retaliate against U.S. military action by launching drones toward targets along the West Coast, according to ABC News.
An FBI alert, distributed to police departments at the end of February, said federal officials had obtained information indicating Iran may have considered a drone attack originating from a vessel off the U.S. coastline.
“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 State Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran,” the alert stated. “We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack.”
SFGATE reached out to the San Francisco FBI office, which declined to comment. SFGATE reached out to the San Francisco Police Department but did not hear back prior to publication. The SF mayor’s office deferred to SFPD.
An Oakland Police Department spokesperson said the agency has been coordinating with federal partners about potential security risks tied to the conflict.
“We have spoken with our federal partners, who informed us that there may be a heightened risk due to the conflict in the Middle East,” the spokesperson said. “To ensure the safety of our community, we are maintaining close contact with local, state, and federal law enforcement.”
“OPD will keep monitoring the situation and determine if there is a need to increase police presence,” the spokesperson added.
The warning comes amid an escalating war in the Middle East that began after U.S.-Israeli airstrikes killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran on Feb. 28. In the days that followed, Iran’s Assembly of Experts named his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the country’s new supreme leader, elevating a hard-line cleric with close ties to Iran’s security establishment during the height of the conflict.
Trump has continued to launch an ongoing military campaign against Iran, which has responded with drone strikes against targets across the Middle East. More than 1,300 people in Iran have been killed since the conflict began, according to CNN. In Lebanon, where Israeli strikes began last week, at least 630 people have been reported killed.
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March 11, 2026
News Reporter
Olivia Hebert is a news reporter at SFGATE, where she covers breaking news and a diverse array of topics. Before joining SFGATE, she wrote lifestyle news for the Independent, often exploring the intersection of health, technology, pop culture, travel and style. She’s also written entertainment news for Collider, Distractify and StyleCaster. You can reach her at olivia.hebert@sfgate.com.
