US military commander warns that soldiers' social media posts could cost lives

The commander of US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, issued an unusual warning stating that videos uploaded by American soldiers to social media are helping Iran analyze in real time the results of attacks on bases in the Middle East. The military is considering confiscating cell phones from some troops.

The commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, published an unusual internal letter warning that videos uploaded by American soldiers to social media provide Iran with valuable real-time intelligence. According to a Reuters report, the Pentagon is considering confiscating cell phones from some troops deployed in the Middle East in the coming days. Cooper noted that Iran exploits videos, photos, and reports to assess the success of its attacks against American targets, rather than relying solely on its own intelligence means. As an example, he mentioned a video posted this month on Instagram showing soldiers running to shelter during an Iranian missile and drone attack on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, filmed using smart Meta glasses. Cooper wrote that "the direct and inevitable cost of open-source intelligence could be measured in the lives of American service members and civilian residents in Gulf states." According to Reuters, some soldiers in Jordan have already been informed that their phones may be confiscated, and the move is also being considered at other bases.