The top US military commander in the Middle East has warned American troops that cellphone videos shared online could help Iran identify and target US military bases, while some deployed personnel may soon be ordered to surrender their phones, Reuters reported, citing sources.
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The potential restrictions would affect thousands of US troops stationed across the region, many of whom rely on mobile phones to stay in touch with their families and reassure them of their safety.
In a previously unreported letter dated July 28, Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, cautioned that Iran was using publicly available images and videos to assess the effectiveness of its strikes in near real time.
"The direct, unavoidable cost of this open-source intelligence could be measured in the lives of American service members and civilian residents in targeted Gulf countries," Cooper wrote in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.
He urged troops to "redouble our focus on operational security," though the memo did not outline any specific measures.
According to Reuters, the warning reflects growing concerns within the US military over the role of real-time news reporting, satellite imagery and social media posts in providing intelligence that could assist Iran in targeting American forces.
In Jordan, which has been repeatedly targeted by Iranian strikes, some US troops have been informed that their mobile phones will be confiscated in the coming days, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
A third source said confiscating phones was under consideration elsewhere in the region because of operational security concerns, but stressed that no final decision had been made.
