U.S. military leaders are considering ordering some troops deployed in the Middle East to surrender their cellphones due to concerns that Iran is using social media posts to assess the effectiveness of its missile and drone strikes. Reports indicate that service members stationed in Jordan have been informed that their phones may be confiscated in the coming days. A broader implementation of cellphone restrictions is also being evaluated across the region, although this has not been confirmed.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) acknowledged that Adm. Brad Cooper sent an internal message regarding operational security but did not release the message publicly. CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins emphasized the importance of maintaining operational security. A defense official did not confirm whether personnel had been ordered to surrender their phones, citing operational security protocols.
The internal message reportedly warned that online posts provide Iran with near-real-time information about the success of its attacks. Cooper noted that Iran can analyze social media and news reports to determine the impact of its strikes, which could lead to more effective follow-up attacks. He highlighted the risk posed by publicly available information, which can help adversaries assess damage and plan future operations.
Cellphone policies vary within the military, with personal devices already restricted in sensitive situations. Concerns about cellphone-related vulnerabilities have been raised previously, including the potential for adversaries to exploit commercially available location data to track U.S. personnel. Lawmakers have urged the Pentagon to take precautions against such threats.
The Pentagon referred inquiries to CENTCOM, and Iran's Mission to the United Nations was not immediately available for comment.