US considers confiscating mobile phones from soldiers due to intelligence leak risks to Iran
The commander of US Central Command has warned troops in the Middle East that posting combat footage assists Tehran in targeting bases. Admiral Brad Cooper stated that open-source intelligence gathered from social media directly costs American lives.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), is warning his troops that posting videos from mobile phones could help Iran strike American bases in the Middle East. Several sources told the Reuters news agency that some units stationed in the region may soon be ordered to hand over the mobile phones they use, including for communication with their loved ones.
According to reports, senior US military officials believe that Iran benefits from the ability to assess the success or failure of its attacks in near real-time by monitoring news reports and social media posts that contain "reactions, photos, and documentation from our forces' phones."
In his letter to the troops, Admiral Cooper noted:
"The direct and unavoidable cost of this open-source intelligence is measured in the lives of American service members and civilians in the Gulf countries who are under attack."
He called on the troops to "redouble our focus on operational security" without defining specific steps. Cooper emphasized the tension between real-time news reporting and the military's need to limit information that could assist Iran in its efforts to kill or wound American soldiers.
In Jordan, which has been a frequent target of Iranian attacks, some forces were informed that their phones might be confiscated in the coming days. Other sources indicated that such a move is being considered as a security measure, though it has not yet been finalized.
US Central Command stated that "the message is a general reminder to our personnel about the importance of maintaining operational security."
Highlighting the danger, Cooper referenced a recent incident:
"A video filmed from inside Meta glasses was posted on Instagram, showing an evacuation to a bunker during an Iranian missile and UAV attack. Iran knows the weapon was launched, but their forces do not know if they missed by 50 meters, hit an empty runway, or successfully hit a crowded facility. Things published openly in news outlets actually serve as a battle damage assessment for Iran, for free."
The potential for phone confiscation has raised concerns among the relatives of American soldiers. US officials have warned for years that certain mobile applications can be exploited by enemies to collect location data. Since February 28, 18 American soldiers have been killed in the conflict with Iran, and more than 600 have been wounded.
