Officials with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said there was no specific threat to the county following reports Iran sought to launch attack drones at California in late February.
ABC News released a statement on March 11 that it had reviewed an alert distributed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to state law enforcement agencies.
The alert said: “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 U.S. conducted strikes against Iran. We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack.”
The United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other officials, on Feb. 28. Iran has launched strikes on bases and allies in the Middle East, injuring over 150 and killing 13 United States armed service members.
Brooks Jarosz, senior communications officer for the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, said on March 11 the office was advised of the reports by the FBI before it was reported in the media.
“At this time, there is no actionable or specific intelligence indicating any threat to Santa Clara County,” he said. “We remain in close communication with the FBI, and should any credible threat arise, we will work with our federal and local law enforcement partners to keep our community safe.”
The Mountain View Police Department and the Los Altos Police Department did not respond to requests for comment.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said during a press conference on March 11 that the state was aware of the reports.
“Drone issues have always been top of mind,” he said.
Later in the day, Newsom’s office released a statement: “I am in constant coordination with security and intelligence officials, including at @Cal_OES, to monitor potential threats to California – including those tied to the conflict in the Middle East.
“While we are not aware of any imminent threats at this time, we remain prepared for any emergency in our state.”
On March 1, the Sheriff’s Office released a statement noting there were no credible threats at that time. The report noted a plan to increase “high
visibility patrols at places of worship, community centers, and other gathering sites to support safety and provide additional reassurance to residents” and to maintain communication with local faith leaders.
“Every member of our diverse community should feel safe and secure,” Sheriff Robert Jonsen said. “Deputies are here to serve you, and if something appears suspicious, report it right away.”
Suspicious activity or concerns can be reported to the office’s non-emergency line at (408) 808-4400.