A crackdown on mobile communications would introduce a new aspect to the conflict for the thousands of U.S. troops in the area, many of whom still depend on phones to periodically contact family and confirm their well-being.
Admiral Brad Cooper, in a previously unreleased letter, noted that Iran was gaining insights into the effectiveness of its strikes in near real-time by examining news stories or online posts by journalists that referenced “reactions, photos, and footage from the cellphones of our troops.”
“The direct and unavoidable cost of this open-source intelligence could be measured in the lives of American service members and civilian residents in targeted Gulf nations,” Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, wrote in his July 28 letter, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.
He urged troops to “redouble our focus on operational security,” though he did not specify particular measures in the memo.
This warning highlighted the increasing tensions between real-time news reporting on the conflict, often enhanced by satellite imagery and eyewitness accounts, and the U.S. military’s desire to limit any information that could assist Iran in targeting U.S. troops.
In Jordan, regularly targeted by Iranian strikes, some troops have been informed that their phones would be confiscated soon, two sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.
A third source mentioned that such action was under consideration in the region due to operational security worries but did not present confiscation as a certainty.
When asked for a comment, U.S. Central Command spokesperson Captain Timothy Hawkins stated: “The message serves as a general reminder to our service members about the significance of maintaining operational security. This is one of many occasions Admiral Cooper has taken to communicate operational priorities.”
RUNNING FOR SHELTER DURING IRAN ATTACK
This month, a U.S. service member shared a video showing soldiers scrambling for shelter during a lethal Iranian attack on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on July 17.
Cooper seemed to reference this footage in his letter, indicating it had been recorded using Meta smart glasses equipped with a built-in camera.
“Video captured from a service member’s Meta glasses was posted on Instagram, showing the location and manner in which the individual sought refuge in a bunker during an Iranian missile and drone strike,” Cooper wrote.
Typically, Iran would struggle to assess the impact of its strikes were it not for such accounts, Cooper explained, given the U.S. military’s electronic jamming and other strategies used in conflict zones.
“Iran is aware that the weapons were launched; however, their forces cannot determine if they missed by 50 meters, hit an unoccupied tarmac, or successfully struck a crowded facility,” he noted. “Detailed lists, descriptions, and analyses of what was hit, openly disseminated by news organizations, effectively perform Iran’s Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) for them at no cost,” Cooper added.
Since the conflict with Iran began on February 28, approximately 18 U.S. troops have lost their lives and over 600 have been injured, raising alarm among Americans concerning a war that only one in three supports.
Democratic lawmakers have requested more information on the war, including specifics about damage to U.S. infrastructure on bases such as radar towers, barracks, and aircraft hangars. They have also demanded the release of a U.S. military investigation into a potential U.S. strike on a girls’ school in Iran, first reported by Reuters, on the conflict’s opening day on February 28.
CELL PHONES BEING TAKEN?
The regulations governing cellphone use among deployed troops can greatly differ across the military, officials say. Many troops must secure their phones, and cellphones can be prohibited on particularly sensitive missions, especially by special operations forces.
However, the potential confiscation of phones has caused anxiety among some family members, who are already on edge as they hear Iranian claims of lethal strikes on bases throughout the Middle East, according to two sources.
U.S. officials have warned for years that certain apps on mobile devices, such as fitness apps, could be exploited by adversaries to assist in targeting due to location data. In May, Reuters reported that commercially available location data harvested from smartphones or other devices was used to target or surveil U.S. forces.
Simultaneously, the Pentagon has aimed to tightly control the release of information due to what it cites as operational security issues, frequently refraining from commenting on Iran’s attack claims or detailing individual incidents that resulted in injuries of U.S. troops.
Cooper stated that information about strikes can help Iran plan follow-up attacks.
“Detailed public disclosures can provide an immediate signal for Iranian forces to initiate a secondary, significantly more destructive wave of attacks,” he said.
