By Humeyra Pamuk and Jasper Ward
WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was not worried about Iran-backed attacks on U.S. soil, as the Federal Bureau of Investigation warned of Iranian drones potentially striking the U.S. West Coast, ABC News reported.
In response to U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed top Iranian officials, Tehran has carried out attacks of its own.
When asked on Wednesday if he was worried that Iran may increase its retaliation to include strikes on U.S. soil, Trump told reporters, “No, I’m not.”
ABC News later reported the FBI had last month warned police departments in California that Iran could launch drones at the West Coast from an unidentified vessel off the coast.
“We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack,” ABC cited the alert as saying.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said the bulletin was one of many security updates the state received from federal partners daily. California, it said, had elevated its security posture since the start of the conflict.
“The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is actively working with state, local and federal security officials,” said Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson for Newsom.
Spokespeople for the FBI, Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles mayor did not immediately respond to requests for comments.
Reuters reported earlier this month that Iran and its proxies could target the U.S. with attacks.
A threat assessment produced by the Department of Homeland Security said Iran and its proxies “probably” pose a threat of targeted attacks on the United States, although a large-scale physical strike was unlikely.
(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Jasper Ward in Washington; Additional reporting by Ryan Patrick Jones; Editing by David Ljunggren and Caitlin Webber)
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