Harry Re

US Build-Up for #FreeIran UPDATE: A bit of analysis from me on here for once. After the flurry of activity over the last 72hrs, the relative lack of significant movements this morning is telling - whether it's the calm before the storm, or that things are being delayed, we will have to wait and see. As of this morning, I have confirmation of the following: - 31 tankers in CENTCOM - 57 more tankers along a potential "Midnight Hammer"-style bomber route through the Atlantic and Mediterranean - 19 further tankers in UK & Germany which could be moved around if needed to surge capacity - An as yet unconfirmed number of other tanker types (e.g. KC-130J, MC-130, HC-130) that would support helicopters/Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) if needed - 30 F-35A "Lightning II" fast-jets in Jordan (18 from RAF Lakenheath, 12 from Vermont) - 12 A-10C "Thunderbolt II" ground attack aircraft in Jordan (from Moody AFB) - 36 F-15E "Strike Eagle" fast-jets in Jordan (24 from RAF Lakenheath, 12 from Seymour-Johnson) - 6 EA-18G "Growler" electronic attack aircaft in Jordan, plus 10-12 more onboard 2x CVNs - Other carrier assets include 10-12 F-35Cs, 70-84 F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet" jets and 8-10 E-2D "Advanced Hawkeye" AWACS - 12 F-22A "Raptor" jets at RAF Lakenheath that we understand are due to move foward tomorrow - 48 F-16C/CJ "Fighting Falcon" jets potentially at 2-3 locations around the Middle East (comprising 24 from Aviano, 12 from McEntire and 12 from Spangdahlem) - 6 E-3G "Sentry" AWACS, all in Saudi Arabia - 5 E-11A BACN (Battlefield Airborne Communications Node) aircraft, also in Saudi Arabia - at least 3 MQ-4C "Triton" maritime patrol UAVs - a handful of P-8A "Poseidon" maritime patrol aircraft to help monitor the waterways around Iran - 1 RC-135V "Rivet Joint" signals-intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft - Reports of a U-2S "DragonLady" photographic reconnaissance aircraft flying into the region a couple of times this week from a base elsewhere - 2 RQ-4B "Global Hawk" reconnaissance UAVs in the Mediterranean capable of flying towards Iran if needed All of these combined assets imply we are close to the launch of a significant and sustained combat air operation - likely talking a number of weeks - where key targets in opening strikes would be air defences, ballistic missile launchers and key figures within the Iranian regime. I would also point out that the number of tankers positioned along the US -> Atlantic -> Mediterranean -> Iran route is significantly higher than during Operation MIDNIGHT HAMMER last year, suggesting that if B-2s are used again, this won't be a one-off strike by them, but potentially a significant strike package of multiple bombers, or a round-the-clock mission keeping 1 or more bombers over Iran to take out targets of interest as intel emerges. I also note that media reports issues at the moment with the UK government reportedly taking issue with the US launching aircraft from RAF Fairford or Diego Garcia Airbase in the #chagos islands for operations in Iran - while this could be an issue, it's more of a logistical problem - bombers flying from either of these two bases would have to do far less distance than flying direct from CONUS. The 50+ tankers along the potential bomber route suggests the US is preparing to do the strikes from US soil unless the UK Government changes it's mind - which frankly I consider a wise precaution given PM Starmer's insistence on *some* aspects of "International Law". So the question remains, when? Realistically, that question can only be answered by the White House and a small selection of folks in the Pentagon - but I'd say the US is pretty much ready, and with the USS Gerald R Ford (CVN-78) and her strike group now into the Mediterranean sailing east, the next week or so will could very easily be the moment that so many Iranians have been waiting for - for so long. I look forward to a #FreeIran and the end of the Ayatollah's murderous regime - perhaps someday we'll know exactly how many more than 50,000 people the regime murdered during the January protests. /END/ @MATA_osint @FaytuksNetwork @UKDefJournal @ArmchairAdml @vcdgf555 @steffanwatkins @Osinttechnical @KyleJGlen @TheIntelFrog @COUPSURE @hey_itsmyturn