The U.S. military is reportedly considering seizing the cell phones of some troops deployed in the Middle East.
According to Reuters on July 29, U.S. Central Command Commander Brad Cooper warned troops stationed in the region in a letter sent on July 28 not to post videos and photos taken with their phones online.
Cooper noted that Iran is monitoring news reports and online posts to assess the reactions of U.S. troops and the success of attacks in near real-time. He stated, "The direct and unavoidable costs of such open-source information could lead to casualties among U.S. troops in Gulf nations targeted by attacks and civilians in the Middle East."
The military is indeed reviewing the possibility of seizing phones. Two sources indicated that some U.S. troops in Jordan, which has faced multiple Iranian attacks, have been informed that their phones could be confiscated within days. However, other sources clarified that the decision on phone seizures has not yet been finalized.
Timothy Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, said, "This message is intended to remind troops of the overall importance of maintaining operational security," adding that it is one of several instances where Cooper has communicated operational priorities.
Particularly concerning to the military is a video taken on July 17 during an Iranian attack on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. A U.S. service member posted footage on social media showing fellow troops running to a shelter, captured with camera-equipped Meta smart glasses.
Cooper warned that the video exposed the movements of troops and their methods of seeking shelter. He emphasized that while U.S. electronic warfare efforts make it difficult for Iran to accurately assess the results of its attacks, information released by troops and the media is filling that gap.
He also stressed, "Revealing detailed information could effectively give the Iranian military an immediate green light to launch a much more destructive second attack."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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