American bases in the Middle East and Europe, as well as potential targets in Greece, are expected to be in the crosshairs of pro-Iranian organizations if the US launches an attack against the Khamenei regime, according to a shocking leak of American intelligence published by the New York Times. According to the scenario examined by the Pentagon, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and various Iranian organizations are expected to enter the war immediately, targeting US bases in the Middle East and Europe—specifically in the Mediterranean—following a potential strike by Trump against Tehran. Notably, this leak comes at a time when the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford is stationed at the American base in Souda Bay.
Under this prism, Crete is transformed into a US launchpad, while Greece enters a dangerous orbit of direct involvement in the upcoming military operations against Iran. We recall that in the past, our country has been involved in Operation Aspides, sending frigates on a European mission against the Houthis in the Red Sea.
NYT bomb revelation: Iran's allies will hit our bases in Europe and the Mediterranean
More specifically, the United States expresses fears of retaliatory attacks against American targets by Iran's allies in the event of an operation against Tehran, according to the American newspaper New York Times. "Iran could send its proxies to carry out retaliatory terrorist attacks against American targets in Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East, if President Trump orders large-scale strikes against Iran," the report notes. The Houthis of Yemen, the Lebanese group Hezbollah, and even Al-Qaeda could be involved in such operations, the article mentions. However, US intelligence does not know the exact plans for such strikes. Nevertheless, according to the report, the US is intercepting an increasing number of communications between Iran and its allies, which may indicate the planning and coordination of attacks.
"US operation will hurt more than... Iraq" – The Rivet Joint in Crete!
Earlier, Turkish Air Force Colonel Ihsan Sefa compared a potential US operation against Iran to the conflict in Iraq. He believed that the Trump administration wants to limit itself to strikes within Iranian territory. The United States Air Force deployed a second RC-135V Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft to Souda, Crete, while more are apparently expected. The RC-135W constitutes the standard airborne signals intelligence collection platform for the US Air Force. It was developed by a series of companies, including General Dynamics, Lockheed, LTV, E-Systems, and L3 Technologies.
The aircraft's sensor suite allows the mission crew to detect, identify, and geolocate signals across the electromagnetic spectrum. The crew can then forward the collected information in various formats to a wide range of consumers through the Rivet Joint's extensive communications suite. The first RC-135V arrived at Souda Base after a very short deployment at Al Udeid Air Base near the capital of Qatar, Doha.
American reconnaissance aircraft under the microscope of Chinese satellites
The second appeared at the airbase in a satellite image released by the Chinese company Mizarvision on February 23. Reportedly, it flew all the way from Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida. The same image shows 11 KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft at the base.
The US Air Force may also be preparing to deploy at least three additional RC-135s to Greece or the Middle East. The aircraft, which took off from the US mainland on February 23, are two RC-135Ws and one RC-135S. One of the RC-135Ws is reported to be indeed heading toward Souda. The other toward RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom. The destination of the RC-135S remains unclear...
Top American electronic warfare assets arrive in the Middle East
The RC-135S Cobra Ball is a very special version. It is a measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) collector, equipped with special electro-optical instruments, such as all-weather tracking radar and a medium-wave infrared array, designed to observe ballistic missile flights at long distances. The deployment of these aircraft is not surprising.
The US military buildup in the region has gained momentum in recent days. Dozens of warplanes were sent to the region, and the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group entered the Mediterranean Sea. According to various estimates, the US is now fully ready to launch an attack against the Islamic Republic.
Trump settles on "limited strike" against Iran
A report published by the New York Times on February 23 stated that American President Donald Trump is considering launching a limited strike on Iran in the near future to pressure Tehran to agree to his nuclear demands. The newspaper cited sources familiar with the Trump administration's discussions. It mentioned that the initial strike could target command centers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, ballistic missile sites, or nuclear infrastructure.
It further noted that if these strikes do not bear fruit, a much larger attack could follow later this year aimed at overthrowing the regime. The latest developments come at a time when the two sides are expected to meet again in Geneva on February 26. Nevertheless, under these conditions, an agreement seems extremely unlikely...
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