U.S. Commander Warns Troops Over Phone Videos, Citing Security Risks

The U.S. military is reportedly considering measures to restrict the use of mobile phones by service members deployed to the Middle East.

Reuters reported that Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, warned troops that mobile phone videos shared online could help Iran target U.S. bases.

Stressing the need for heightened security, Cooper stated that the cost of such open-source information could lead to the sacrifice of U.S. service members and civilians in targeted Gulf nations.

Reuters also reported that some U.S. troops stationed in Jordan have been notified that their mobile phones will be confiscated within days.

The consideration of mobile phone confiscation stems from concerns that photos and videos taken by service members could be utilized in Iranian attacks.

In fact, a U.S. service member recently filmed themselves taking shelter in a bunker to escape Iranian missile and drone strikes at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan and posted it on social media. Regarding this, Cooper pointed out, "Iran knows they launched weapons, but they don't know if it missed the target by 50 meters, hit an empty runway, or struck a facility with a large number of people."

He emphasized that media reports and social media posts containing specific information on U.S. casualties and damage are essentially performing battle damage assessments for Iran for free.

The U.S. government has previously warned that geolocation data and various applications on mobile phones could be exploited by enemy nations.

Regulations on mobile phone use for deployed U.S. troops are known to vary depending on operational conditions.

While use is already strictly prohibited during sensitive missions, many service members normally rely on phones to stay in touch with their families, meaning that any confiscation measures are expected to cause considerable fallout.

(Reported by Kim Taewon | Video by Ahn Jun-hyeok | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.