Troops raided an old hotel in Long Beach and a hospital in Pasadena after midnight, sparking panic among locals recovering from recent fires.

Imagine waking up to the sound of explosions right outside your bedroom window, thinking your city is under attack. That is the fear many Los Angeles families felt this week as military drills turned their streets into a war zone.

WHAT HAPPENED

Shortly after midnight on Friday, military helicopters swarmed the old Golden State Hotel in Long Beach. Troops dropped from the sky onto the roof, threw flash-bang bombs, and fired fake bullets. Long Beach police blocked the roads but left residents in the dark.

A similar raid shook a quiet neighborhood in Pasadena at 1 a.m. on Thursday. Soldiers fired fake guns at an old hospital just feet away from houses where people were trying to sleep.

Another drill took place in the City of Industry. Local leaders and residents are angry about the late hours, loud noise, and lack of warning.

WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS

3 cities across the Los Angeles area targeted for drills this week.

• 1 a.m. was the time of the Pasadena drill, which went past the promised end time.
• 8 matches of the FIFA World Cup are coming to Los Angeles.
• 2 major global events, the World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games, are scheduled for the area.
• 100 feet or less separated the Pasadena raid from local homes across the street.

THE BIGGER QUESTION

Why must the military train in the middle of quiet neighborhoods without warning the people who live there? There are plenty of empty bases and deserts where soldiers can practice.

When we let the military treat our cities like battlefields, we risk making people feel unsafe in their own homes. We need to ask if keeping us safe in the future is worth terrifying us today.

THE OTHER SIDE

The military and local police say these drills are necessary to protect huge events like the upcoming World Cup and the Olympics. They argue that soldiers must practice in real cities to be ready for real threats.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW

Local city leaders are demanding better communication from the military. Residents are left trying to calm their children and recover from the shock.

This leaves a gap of trust between the public and the forces meant to protect them. Future drills will likely face much more pushback from local neighborhoods.

WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW

1. Why did the military choose neighborhoods right next to homes instead of open training grounds?
2. What specific threats are they preparing for ahead of the World Cup and Olympics?
3. Who approved these late-night drills so close to sleeping families?