U.S. officials say the top American commander for the Middle East is warning troops about operational security risks from cellphone use. According to multiple reports citing sources, the commander tells deployed personnel that cellphone videos and other content shared online can help Iran identify and target U.S. bases. The concern centers on public or widely accessible imagery potentially being used to assess strike effects or refine targeting in near real time.
The reports also state that some deployed service members may soon be ordered to surrender their mobile phones. This would represent a new communications restriction affecting thousands of U.S. troops stationed across the region. Officials note that many troops rely on phones to periodically message family members and reassure loved ones while deployed.
The outlets describe the move as a potential crackdown or requirement tied to security, but do not provide details on how broadly any order would apply or what alternative communications would be available. The reports consistently attribute the warning to the commander and frame the issue as protecting U.S. personnel and facilities from harm.
