BREAKING
Iran
SecState Pompeo has flown to Bagdad for meetings. The topic of these meetings is not known, but speculation that it may be related to Iranian actions moving missiles in the Straits of Hormuz and related threats to US interests.
RUMINT - Iranian IRGC Cuds Force elements reportedly transferring heavy weapons to controlled areas within Iraq with intent to use against US interests - monitoring. Quality of the source of information is questionable.
Strait of Hormuz - Iranian cargo vessels have been identified transporting anti-ship missiles to controlled islands in the strait and Yemen. Some of the missiles identified include Khalije-Fars anti-ship and Hormuz-1 & 2 SEAD Ballistic missiles. One likely island is also the fortified Abu Musa island and ranging for some of these missile’s listed is in the neighborhood of 300km Some folks look at the timing as one of the reasons the Lincoln strike group has been ordered to get to the gulf asap.
French sources report that Europe is ready to reimpose sanctions on Iran if they resume nuclear development. French Carrier DeGault last report I had was the Indian ocean.
B-52s headed to the region are reported to be staging out of Qatar. A 4th US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Gonzalez has joined the Lincoln Strike group.
Related moon watch - Full moon May 18th
Venezuela
USNS Comfort is reportedly headed to locations near Venezuela.
Pro-medaro forces have been reported to be ‘securing’ the legislature, airfields and other critical sites.
JudicialWatch President @TomFitton : “Obama allowed his DOJ & FBI to spy on @realDonaldTrump. That’s the scandal of our generation & the collusion that needs to be investigated. Mueller pretending that this scandal wasn’t an issue shows you the corruption of the Mueller special counsel.”
Updates
Iran
Lincoln Strike Group passed thru the Suez canal overnight. Should be in strike range within a day. B52 deployed to Qatar overnight as well. Additional sanctions have been announced by the WH to start ‘very soon’.
Iran has threatened to go full bore on its nuclear program if Europe doesn’t protect Iran from US sanctions within the next 60 days. So far the EU has rejected any such demands.
As reported by NBC news, Iran has ordered/given permission to its proxy terror groups to attack US interests at will throughout the world. This will develop into a dangerous game of chicken.
In addition to terror and regular military activities - this my be the time Iran pulls out the cyber attack genie. It is relatively common knowledge that Iran has been aggressively probing US internet infrastructure seeking signs of weakness that they could exploit as necessary. If things go kinetic in the M.E, better be alert to the cyber attack threat.
N Korea
Overnight Kim launched two short ranged missiles. Seems that since he had his confab with Putin, he’s gotten more froggy.
Also overnight, the US seized a N K coal ship for violating sanctions. First action of this nature.
Venezuela
Maduro arrested first Vice President of the National Assembly in Venezuela overnight.