UPDATED: West Hollywood’s Lt. Ashley Turner responded to WEHOonline’s request for comment with a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department saying the department “remains at an elevated level of readiness. The full statement is at the bottom of the page”
The FBI warned California law enforcement agencies in recent days that Iran allegedly planned a drone attack on the West Coast, according to an alert reviewed by ABC News. No specific targets were identified. No timing was given. But the warning went out, and West Hollywood is inside the zone it covers. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office told ABC News: “The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is actively working with state, local and federal security officials to protect our communities.”
The bulletin, distributed at the end of February, said the FBI had acquired information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles launched from an unidentified vessel off the U.S. coast. California was named as the target area. The FBI said it had no additional information on timing, method, or intended targets.
The alert came just as the Trump administration launched its military campaign against Iran. Iran has since responded with drone strikes against targets across the Middle East.
What the FBI Actually Said
The language in the alert is worth reading closely. “Allegedly aspired” and “unidentified vessel” are doing a lot of work in that sentence. The FBI was not saying an attack was imminent. It was saying the agency had picked up information suggesting Iran had considered it.
That’s a meaningful distinction worth noting. It’s not nothing. It’s also not a confirmed plot.
The FBI’s Los Angeles field office declined to comment. The White House did not respond to ABC News requests before publication.
What Experts Are Saying
John Cohen, a former head of intelligence for the Department of Homeland Security and now an ABC News contributor, said the concern is real. He said Iran has an established presence in Mexico and South America, has access to drones, and now has reason to use them. “The FBI is smart for putting this warning out so that state and locals can be better able to prepare and respond to these types of threats,” Cohen said. He added that information sharing like this is critical for local law enforcement.
What It Means Locally
West Hollywood has no port, no military installation, and no obvious symbolic “federal” target. But it sits in Los Angeles County, well within the geographic scope of the warning. LASD West Hollywood Station has not issued any public statement in response to the FBI alert. WEHOonline reached out for comment and will update this story when a response is received.
This is not meant to panic anyone, but it is worth noting. The bulletin exists to help local agencies prepare — not to signal that an attack is coming.
The FBI warning isn’t the only signal that’s caught attention in California lately. A U.S. Navy Boeing E-6B Mercury aircraft, known informally as the “Doomsday plane,” was spotted flying over Fresno on March 9, conducting practice approaches at the airport for roughly two hours. It was the second time the aircraft had appeared over California in two months. The plane serves as an airborne nuclear command post — it’s designed to control bombers, missiles and ballistic missile submarines if ground-based command centers are knocked out.
Earlier this year the same type of aircraft turned up at LAX, though that appearance was later attributed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel. The Fresno sighting came as the U.S. and Israel continued strikes against Iran. President Trump and Hegseth both said Tuesday would be the most intense day of bombing yet. “Today will be yet again, our most intense day of strikes inside Iran: the most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes, intelligence more refined and better than ever,” Hegseth said at a Pentagon briefing.
LASD Responds
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department issued a statement Wednesday addressing the FBI warning and the broader conflict in the Middle East.
“In light of current global events, the Department remains at an elevated level of readiness and is maintaining increased vigilance as we continue to protect our residents of Los Angeles County,” the statement said.
The department said it is working with federal and local law enforcement partners to share intelligence and monitor the conflict. It listed lone-actor attacks, sleeper cells, and advanced technological or cyber threats among the potential threats it is tracking.
LASD said it has increased patrols around places of worship, cultural institutions and other prominent locations throughout the county, noting current religious observances as part of the reason for the heightened presence.”
Residents can report suspicious activity by calling 911 for emergencies or 310-855-8850 for non-emergency situations.
“Looks kids, I have a shiny quarter” (said whilst stealing their cell phones). Epstein will never go away Agent Orange.