Tonight’s announcement from President Trump follows unusual statements this week by both President Barack Obama and Trump, suggesting the possibility of extraterrestrial life having previously visited Earth.

Iran has been pressing the Hezbollah terrorist group in Lebanon to join any potential conflict against Israel and the United States if one breaks out, according to Ynet, with Israel said to be “closely monitoring the situation and has conveyed very clear warnings to Hezbollah that if it decides to intervene, this time the blow will be very painful.”

Israel is prepared for the possibility that Hezbollah, and other Iranian proxies across the Middle East, will join a war if one breaks out between Iran and the United States, sources tell Ynet.

Wow, three of the U.S. Air Force’s C-5M “Super Galaxy” Strategic Heavy-Lift Aircraft are currently airborne at the same time across Europe heading to the Middle East, all while a fourth prepares to cross the Atlantic.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reports that it detected and tracked two Tu-95s, two Su-35s, and one A-50 with the Russian Air Force operating Thursday, February 19, within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). In response, NORAD scrambled two F-16s, two F-35s, one E-3, and four KC-135s to intercept, positively identify, and escort the aircraft until they departed the Alaskan ADIZ.

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision led by Chief Justice John Roberts, has ruled that the sweeping tariffs imposed last year by President Donald J. Trump under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, targeting dozens of countries across the world, were unlawful, with dissent being given by Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett M. Kavanaugh. Members of the Trump Administration had previously threatened that if the tariffs were struck down, it may force the administration to pay back billions in tariff revenue, with President Trump claiming a negative decision posed the “biggest threat” to national security and warning of “economic disaster” for the United States.

U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG-72) has activated its automatic identification system (AIS) as it, and likely the entire USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, conduct their transit of the Strait of Gibraltar from the Atlantic Ocean into the western Mediterranean Sea.

A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon operating out of Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy has descended just east of the Strait of Gibraltar as USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group enters the Mediterranean Sea for the second time on this deployment.

The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) and its escorts have transited the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the western Mediterranean Sea on their way eastbound towards the Middle East.
Photo: @Gibdan1

U.S. Air Force heavy airlift assets are still very active over Europe and the Middle East this morning, with 1 C-5M Super Galaxy and 13 C-17A Globemaster IIIs active.

A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued for Sofia International Airport in Bulgaria, which houses Vrazhdebna Air Base, announcing that the airport will be closed for all flights except those operated by the military between 0115 to 0250 on February 23 and again from 0105 to 0335 on February 24.

Reporter: “Mr. President, are you considering a limited military strike to pressure Iran into a deal?”

President Trump: “I guess I can say I am considering it.”

Speaking to NBC News, a senior official with the Trump Administration stated regarding ongoing negotiations with Iran: “We told the Iranians we’re not going to wait another few years like the Obama Administration.”

President Donald J. Trump called this morning’s decision by the Supreme Court that struck down his tariffs “a disgrace” while hosting a breakfast for governors at the White House, two people familiar with his remarks told CNN. Another person familiar with his remarks said Trump became enraged at the breakfast and started attacking the court - at one point saying “these fucking courts,” telling governors he was leaving early to make a statement on the ruling by the Supreme Court.

The United States is withdrawing much of its planned air power, including F-35 Lightning lls and other air assets, from NATO exercise Cold Response 2026, an annual exercise by the alliance in early to mid March across Northern Norway, due to ongoing rising tensions with Iran, Norwegian defense officials have told Fremover.

Upwards of 60 Norwegian and other allied troops have been relocated or entirely withdrawn from Iraq in the last week or so, as tensions continue to escalate in the region between Iran and the United States, the Joint Headquarters of the Norwegian Armed Forces told TV 2 Norway.

The U.S. Department of Defense has spent the week amassing a very large force in Europe and the Middle East with over 100 aircraft arriving just this week as tensions continue with Iran.
Currently in Europe/U.S. European Command:
36 - F-35s
24 - F-15s
28 - F-16s
12 - F-22s
18 - KC-46s
57+ - KC-135s
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78):
48+ - F/A-18s
6+ - E/A-18s
4+ - E-2s
2 - P-8s
Currently in the Middle East/U.S. Central Command:
36 - F-15s
36 - F-16s
30 - F-35s
12 - A-10s
6 - E/A-18Gs
6 - E-3s
5 - E-11s
7 - KC-46s
20 - KC-135s
1 - U-2
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72):
12 - F-35s
36 - F/A-18s
6+ - E/A-18Gs
4+ - E-2s
4+ - P-8s
This situation is still evolving and aircraft are still moving into position.

Graphic: @ianellisjones
Data: @DefenceGeek @ArmchairAdml @EISNspotter

Fox News has rejected a report earlier today from The New York Times, which claimed that “hundreds” of U.S. troops had been evacuated from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and bases in Bahrain, home to the U.S. 5th Fleet, amid rising tensions with Iran. A well-place U.S. official said that troops have NOT been evacuated from bases in Qatar or Bahrain.

President Donald J. Trump has yet to make a final decision about whether to strike Iranian regime sites or what to target in Iran, according to two people familiar with the planning, who say the attacks could come as early as this weekend, with any move likely to concentrate on Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, according to one person who spoke to Politico.