Admiral John Cooper, the top U.S. military commander in the region, warned that personal video recordings by service members could provide hostile forces with critical intelligence.
Recent footage captured by a soldier during an Iranian drone and missile attack on a base in Jordan showed troops seeking shelter and moving to a bunker. The video, recorded with smart glasses and posted on a public social platform, revealed the exact location and evacuation route.
Cooper noted that such details enable enemy analysts to determine whether weapons missed, struck empty areas, or hit occupied facilities, thereby facilitating a precise battle‑damage assessment.
He emphasized that even brief clips can expose information not obvious to the uploader, potentially aiding adversaries in planning future strikes.
The U.S. military is considering confiscating personal devices from troops stationed in Jordan within days, citing the risk of sensitive data leakage.
Restrictions on mobile devices are already common in high‑risk environments, with some missions requiring phones to be locked away or banned outright.
Officials have highlighted that location data from smartphones, fitness trackers, and similar applications can be exploited to target forces abroad.
The warning follows the deaths of four U.S. service members in recent weeks and a resurgence of hostilities after a ceasefire collapsed.
Since the conflict with Iran began in February, 18 U.S. troops have been killed and more than 600 wounded, while public support for the campaign has declined to roughly one‑third of the population.
