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Meanwhile, Donald Trump has replied to the Iranian leaders statement that they will not surrender.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has reacted to the Iranian leaders statement that they will not surrender.
What is happening?
On the sixth day of attacks between Israel and Iran, analysts suggest that Donald Trump is moving closer to actively supporting Israel.
Trump to Iran: “Good luck”
Trump has demanden unconditional surrender by Iran, which Tehran has denied.
Asked about the Iranian reply on the South Lawn of the White House on Wednesday, Trump simply said “Good luck”.
Military ready to execute
At the same time, US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, told the Senate armed Services Comittee, that:
“If and when those decisions (Trumps) er made, the Derpartment (of Defense) is prepared to execute them.”
And there are plenty of military preparation going on.
Military movements
Over 30 U.S. military aircraft have been relocated from American bases to Europe in just three days, according to flight tracking data reviewed by BBC Verify.
The planes are said to be military tanker aircrafts, used for refueling fighter jets and bombers mid-air.
Strategic Stops Across Europe
At least seven of these tanker planes, all KC-135 Stratotankers, were spotted making stopovers at U.S. airbases in Spain, Scotland, and England.
The aircrafts were en route to unknown destinations, but were moved amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran.
Unusual Movements
Speaking with the BBC, Military analyst Justin Bronk from the Royal United Services Institute described the tanker deployments as “highly unusual,” suggesting the U.S. may be preparing for potential large-scale combat operations.
Bunker busters
BBC Verify reports that if the US targets Iran’s underground enrichment facilities it would likely use GBU-57A/B bunker busters, which are so large only B-2 stealth bombers can carry them.
American B-2 bombers disappear
In late March, B-2 bombers were seen on Diego Garcia, a remote U.S. / UK military base.
Recent satellite images show no sign of the bombers, but the B-2 bombers are able to be airborne for more than 40 hours at a time, and that the US could even launch a strike with B-2 bombers from continental US.
Base used to hit Afghanistan
During Operation Enduring Freedom, which was launched as a response to the 9/11-attack, the Diego Garcia base was used to launch B-2 bomber strikes on Afghanistan.
The B-2 bombers have a 11,000 km (6,900 miles) unfueling flying range, and a 19,000 km (12,000 miles) range with one mid-air refueling.
Trump’s death threats
In a post on Truth Social released during the night, Trump started out by saying that “we know excacly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” adding that Khamenei is an easy target, but that he’s safe there.
Not killing him – now
The next part of the post included the very clear threat:
“We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers.”
“Big surprise coming”
Tuesday morning, Iranian state-tv sent out a message:
“Tonight, a great surprise will occur, one that the World will remember for Centuries.”
Fighting begins
In a post on X, Ayatollah Khamenei, wrote that “the fighting begins”.
He added in another post that:
“We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy.”