The U.S. military conducted an overnight urban warfare training exercise at the abandoned Golden Sails Hotel in Long Beach, California, on Thursday into Friday, June 5, 2026, according to reports. Dozens of soldiers from an undisclosed unit practiced room-clearing, door breaching, and helicopter-assisted insertions using U.S. Army Blackhawk and MH-6 Little Bird aircraft, with the Long Beach Police Department providing perimeter safety.. The operation was part of a weeklong coordinated training push that also included similar drills in Pasadena and Irvine, during which some residents reported being awakened by loud gunfire and low-flying helicopters.

The Golden Sails Hotel: From Vacant Property to Mock Warzone

The former Golden Sails Hotel at 6200 East Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach has been vacant for years, but its multi-story structure with dozens of rooms, hallways, and open areas makes it an ideal setting for close-quarters battle drills, the source notes. The decaying infrastructure allowed troops to practice in a controlled but realistic environment. The U.S. military and law enforcement have occasionally used the site for training before, according to the report, but Thursday's exercise represented a larger-scale effort with multiple helicopter types and coordinated air-ground tactics .

Why MH-6 Little Bird and Blackhawk Helicopters Were on the Scene

Observers saw a pair of MH-6 Little Bird helicopters drop off a team of soldiers before flying off, and a Blackhawk helicopter later landed to extract a squad, as reported by the source. The use of both aircraft types suggests involvement of special operations or aviation units, though the specific unit was not identified. This air assault capability adds a layer of realism, allowing soldiers to practice rapid insertion and extraction in urban terrain, a skill that has become increasingly emphasized in modern warfare training.

A Week of Overnight Drills From Irvine to Pasadena to Long Beach

The Long Beach exercise followed similar operations earlier in the week. On Wednesday night into Thursday, the military conducted drills in the Irvine area. On Thursday night into Friday, exercises occurred in Pasadena near the former St. Luke Medical Center, where residents reported loud gunfire, low-flying helicopters, and triggered car alarms, according to the source.. The continuous operations across three Southern California cities indicate a coordinated regimen designed to prepare troops for compplex, multi-environment urban combat scenarios. Local authorities in all three cities advised residents not to be alarmed and to avoid the areas for safety.

The Unidentified Unit and Unanswered Questions About Transparency

The source did not name the specific military unit involved, only noting that the multiple helicopter types point toward special operations or aviation units. This lack of identification leaves open questions about the scope and purpose of the training. Additionally, while officials emphasized that the drills are essential for national defense and planned with safety as a priority, the public and media were not permitted to observe. Residents in Pasadena expressed concern over the noise and disruption, but no formal public briefing was provided beyond police notifications. the ongoing secrecy around specific units and exercises may fuel speculation, especially as urban warfare training becomes more routine across the country.