US military considers requiring troops in the Middle East to surrender cell phones over Iran targeting concerns

The U.S. military is considering confiscating cell phones from troops in the Middle East, with some personnel in Jordan already warned of upcoming seizures. Admiral Brad Cooper cautioned that online posts and smart-glass footage allow Iran to conduct real-time battle damage assessments, potentially triggering secondary strikes. The conflict has killed 18 U.S. troops and wounded over 600 since February 28, 2026, fueling operational security concerns and congressional demands for transparency.

Cell phone confiscation policy

• ▪The United States military is considering requiring some deployed troops in the Middle East to surrender their cell phones due to operational security concerns.
• ▪Some United States troops deployed in Jordan have been told that their cell phones will be confiscated in the coming days.

Iranian targeting via social media

• ▪Admiral Brad Cooper warned in a July 28, 2026 letter that cellphone footage shared online by troops helps Iran assess the success or failure of its strikes in near real-time.
• ▪A United States service member recorded and posted video on Instagram using Meta smart glasses showing evacuation to a bunker during a July 17, 2026 Iranian attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.

U.S. casualties in Iran conflict

• ▪The conflict with Iran has killed 18 United States troops and wounded more than 600 since February 28, 2026.
• ▪Democratic lawmakers have demanded more information about the war, including details of damage to United States base infrastructure and the release of an investigation into a February 28, 2026 strike on an Iranian girls' school.

Operational security concerns

• ▪United States Central Command spokesperson Captain Timothy Hawkins stated that Admiral Brad Cooper's message was a general reminder to service members on the importance of maintaining operational security.
• ▪Commercially available location data harvested from smartphones has previously been used to target or surveil United States military forces.

Battle damage assessment intelligence

• ▪Admiral Brad Cooper stated that detailed public disclosures and news analyses of strike damage essentially perform Iran's Battle Damage Assessment free of charge.
• ▪Admiral Brad Cooper warned that detailed public disclosures of strike damage can serve as an immediate green light for Iranian forces to launch secondary, more devastating attacks.

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