Oct 6, 2023 STRAIT OF HORMUZ – STRAIT OF HORMUZ (Oct. 6, 2023) An undated still image released on Oct. 6 from video taken by an Arabian Fox MAST-13 unmanned surface vessel of an Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. 5th Fleet forces recently conducted an operation integrating unmanned platforms with traditionally crewed ships and aircraft to conduct enhanced maritime security operations in the waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula. Seven task forces falling under U.S. 5th Fleet integrated 12 different unmanned platforms with manned ships for “manned-unmanned teaming” operations tracking Iranian Navy and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) ships and small boats over several days during routine patrols in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

This dates back to March 11, but thought you might have missed it as I did. ABC news reported a warning from the FBI.

“We recently acquired unverified information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event the U.S. conducted strikes against Iran,” according to the alert distributed at the end of February. “We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack.”

Since the attack would have been launched from sea, this would have been of interest to the Coast Guard. If such a plan existed, it is likely still considered an option, highlighting the need for Maritime Domain Awareness.

California offers almost an infinite number of potential targets, but an aircraft carrier in San Diego would certainly be high on the list of possibilities. Maritime Domain Awareness should extend to cover adjacent Mexican waters as well as off the US coast.