• The FBI issued a memo warning of potential Iranian drone attacks from sea against California.
• Officials emphasize the warning is cautionary with no specific threats identified.
• California Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed preparedness despite the lack of imminent threats.
• The warning comes amid heightened tensions due to U.S. military operations against Iran.
• Experts clarify that the alert is standard procedure for sharing information on broader security risks.

An FBI memo circulated among California law enforcement agencies raised concerns about a possible surprise drone attack from Iran, stating that such an assault could originate from an unidentified vessel off the California coast. The report indicates this warning is linked to the ongoing military conflict involving the U.S. and Israel against Iran, specifically following strikes conducted on February 28, which reportedly claimed the life of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, FBI officials clarified that this alert does not stem from credible intelligence, stating, “We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack” according to Los Angeles Times and India Times.

California Governor Gavin Newsom reassured the public on X, stating, "While we are not aware of any imminent threats at this time, we remain prepared for any emergency in our state." His office noted that this memo is just one of many security updates received daily from federal partners, emphasizing their ongoing vigilance. Local law enforcement underscored that while the alert is noteworthy, there are no known specific threats to Los Angeles or California at this time, as mentioned by CBS News.

Despite the alarm raised by the memo, law enforcement officials characterized it as precautionary, indicating that authorities have not deemed the threat credible. Reports suggest that the memo was issued based on unverified intelligence, and no actions have been deemed necessary in response. A source familiar with law enforcement procedures stated, "All this means is we got this information and we want to get it out to law enforcement executives to make sure they're up to speed." This perspective is corroborated by reports from both CBS News and India Times.