US forces hit Iran hard in a 13th consecutive night of attacks amid growing concern in America’s military that President Donald Trump will escalate the war this weekend.
Military buildup
All week the US has surged its military hardware in the region with extra squadrons of fighter planes and defensive batteries moved into position, along with extra weapons. More Special Forces have been flown into the area and on Friday at least 10 KC-135R Stratotankers flew from the US to stop off at Israeli bases to refuel.
These large-scale warplanes are used to perform perilous air-to-air refuelling of the US air force and navy fighter bombers on long-range missions. Two B-1B Lancer strategic bombers flew from RAF Fairford to an unknown location in readiness for a green-light to launch a major assault on Iran. A large contingent of medics has also been moved up into position in readiness for a flood of casualties if full-scale war does break out.
Threats and warnings
It came in the wake of threats from the Iranian regime against Fairford for having hosted the B1 Bombers, Tehran claiming they launched from the Gloucestershire base. President Trump has warned he may order a large-scale rise in tempo of the conflict this weekend and sources say it is looking likely he will go ahead.
One told the Mirror: “There is increasing concern that Trump will escalate this weekend. It is very possible this may involve some kind of ground incursion. Both Trump and so-called Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had a terrible week because of the lack of mission clarity and strategy and there has been no shift in attitude from the Iranians.”
“Trump may do it to distract from his various issues and Hegseth because he has a deranged sense of masculinity and is obsessed with displaying US military power. But taking the fight to Iran will not be popular.”
Potential ground incursion
One possibility is that the US will decide to occupy Kharg Island, off the coast of Iran, which holds a dominant position to control the safety of ships in the Strait of Hormuz. But it would require an invasion force of thousands of US Marines, vehicles, helicopters and transport planes to conduct such an enormous operation. The looming attack alert went up as Iran’s proxy fighting forces in the region also became increasingly involved in the conflict.
Pro-Iranian Iraqi militia unit Awliya al-Dam claims it attacked Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia as the Houthis step up threats to shipping in the Red Sea. Israel is on alert for the US stepping up its attacks after Mossad foiled an Iranian plot to infiltrate proxy operatives into Israel to kill senior officials. Israeli intelligence says Iran is using ‘proxy by proxy’ hiring of criminals now to launch foreign attacks. According to Mossad Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) was behind the plot.
