The U.S. military is considering broader restrictions on service members' cellphones in the Middle East, including potential confiscation, as Iran is reportedly exploiting social media content to gauge the success of its attacks and enhance follow-up operations. Some U.S. troops stationed in Jordan have already been notified that their phones will be taken in the coming days, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), sent an internal message warning that online posts provide Iran with near real-time information on strike accuracy. He stated that the "direct, unavoidable cost of this open-source intelligence could be measured in the lives of American service members."
Cooper highlighted an incident on July 17, when footage posted online, reportedly captured using a service member’s smart glasses, showed troops evacuating during an Iranian attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. According to Cooper, such information allows Tehran to conduct battle-damage assessments and plan more effective subsequent attacks. Without this intelligence, Iran might struggle to determine if its weapons missed targets or hit unpopulated areas.
CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins described the message as a "general reminder to our service members on the importance of maintaining operational security," adding that it was one of many communications regarding operational priorities. A defense official declined to comment on specific force-protection tactics, citing operational security reasons.
This concern over social media intelligence gathering is separate from a previously reported vulnerability involving adversaries potentially accessing commercially available location data generated by smartphones and apps. Earlier reports indicated that CENTCOM had received threat reports concerning the exploitation of this data to target or surveil U.S. personnel. Lawmakers have urged the Pentagon to implement precautions against data brokers who collect and sell user movement information, arguing that adversaries could use this data to identify military installations or track service members.
Cellphone policies already vary across military branches, with personal devices prohibited during certain sensitive missions and in classified areas. While many troops at established overseas bases use their phones, commanders are now balancing operational security needs with service members' reliance on these devices for communication with families during deployments.