started · updated
US Central Command Considers Confiscating Phones of Troops in Jordan Over Iran Video Leak Concerns
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, sent a letter on July 28 warning that cellphone videos and photos posted online by U.S. service members allow Iran to conduct near‑real‑time battle‑damage assessments and could help it target U.S. bases. He said the “direct, unavoidable cost” of such open‑source intelligence could be measured in the lives of American troops and civilians in Gulf countries.
Some personnel stationed in Jordan have already been told their phones may be taken in the coming days, and officials say similar measures are being considered for other troops across the Middle East, though no final decision has been announced. CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Timothy Hawkins described the memo as a general reminder on operational security.
The warning follows a July 17 Iranian missile and drone attack on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan that killed two U.S. service members and injured dozens. A service member recorded the attack with Meta smart glasses, showing soldiers rushing to shelters, a video the commander cited as evidence of the security risk.
Entities
Brad Cooper · Iran · Jordan · Muwaffaq Salti Air Base · U.S. Central Command · U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 6 SOURCES] Some U.S. troops in Jordan have been told their phones may be confiscated in the coming days. srnnews.com · dnyuz.com · www.al-monitor.com · www.news18.com · wanaen.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] A U.S. service member recorded video with Meta smart glasses during the July 17 Iranian attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. srnnews.com · dnyuz.com · www.al-monitor.com · www.news18.com · wanaen.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, warned troops that cellphone videos shared online can help Iran target American bases. srnnews.com · dnyuz.com · www.al-monitor.com · www.news18.com · wanaen.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] In a July 28 letter, Cooper said Iran benefits from near‑real‑time observation of U.S. strikes via open‑source media. srnnews.com · www.al-monitor.com · www.news18.com · wanaen.com · dnyuz.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] U.S. Central Command spokesperson Captain Timothy Hawkins said the memo is a general reminder on operational security. srnnews.com · www.al-monitor.com · www.news18.com · wanaen.com · dnyuz.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] Two U.S. service members were killed in the Iranian missile and drone attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base on July 17. dnyuz.com · www.news18.com · wanaen.com · srnnews.com · www.al-monitor.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] The U.S. military is considering broader restrictions on mobile phones for troops across the Middle East beyond Jordan. www.news18.com · wanaen.com · srnnews.com · dnyuz.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The US‑Iran conflict that began on 28 February 2026 has caused at least 18 U.S. deaths and over 600 injuries. www.news18.com · wanaen.com · www.secretchina.com · dnyuz.com