Eleven of the twelve F-22 Raptors that departed earlier today from RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, England have landed at Ovda Airbase in the Negev Desert of Southern Israel, joining the ongoing buildup by the U.S. Air Force at bases across the Middle East. One of the F-22s was forced to return to RAF Lakenheath shortly after takeoff due to a suspected fuel leak, though it will likely make the trip to Israel by Friday.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) published a video earlier today in Persian, which encourages and instructs Iranians and/or those living in Iran how to safely and securely contact the CIA.

Despite being only around eight months into her one-year maintenance period that began last July, the USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) departed this morning from Alabama Shipyard in Mobile, possibly destined for her homeport of San Diego, California. Last Saturday, President Trump announced that hospital ship was “on its way” to the Danish territory of Greenland in the Northern Atlantic, though so far no updates have been give by the Pentagon or Navy, who both continue to refer all questions to the White House.

President Donald J. Trump is expected to discuss his future plans for Iran during his State of the Union this evening to Congress, according to two White House officials who spoke with Reuters.

Six additional F-22 Raptors with the 1st Fighter Wing departed Joint Base Langley–Eustis in Virginia earlier enroute to RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, England, supported by several KC-135R/T Stratotankers, GOLD51/52/53, in their crossing of the Atlantic.

Tonight’s State of the Union in front of Congress by President Donald J. Trump is expected to be over two hours, possibly approaching three, according to PBS NewsHour.

Following today’s classified briefing on Iran by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to members of the Gang of Eight, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, (D-NY), stated to reporters, “This is serious, and the administration has to make its case to the American people.”

Speaking earlier to reporters at the White House, President Donald J. Trump reportedly said regarding escalating tensions with Iran, “Iran wants a deal more than I do, but they just can’t say the magic words,” which he said is that they will not build a nuclear bomb, according to ABC News’ Jonathan Karl.

Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), Ranking Member on the House Intelligence Committee, told reporters earlier following today’s classified briefing on Iran by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, “I'm very concerned. Wars in the Middle East don't go well for presidents, for the country, and we have not heard articulated a single good reason for why now is the moment to launch yet another war in the Middle East.”

Recent satellite imagery of Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, by the Shanghai-based Chinese intelligence company MizarVision, shows 6 E-3G “Sentry” Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Aircraft and at least 15 KC-135R/T “Stratotanker” Aerial-Refueling Tankers, with Prince Sultan expected to be a major support base for potential strikes against Iran.

Rep. Mike Thompson of California’s 4th District has been named the Democratic Party’s Designated Survivor for tonight’s State of the Union from President Donald J. Trump.

Germany’s Federal Foreign Office has issued a statement warning Germans in Israel and Lebanon of the “worsening security situation in the region,” urging them to purchase supplies and to familiarize themselves with protection facilities and spaces at every place, while suggesting that in case of airspace closures support options will be limited from the Germany Embassy and Federal Foreign Office, according to the German newspaper Bild.

President Donald J. Trump seen leaving the White House with First Lady Melania Trump ahead of tonight’s State of the Union.

Senior officials are beginning to arrive at the U.S. Capitol ahead of tonight’s State of the Union from President Donald J. Trump, with Vice President JD Vance seen here alongside the Joint Chiefs of Staff, including Chairman Gen. Dan “Raizin” Caine.

President Donald J. Trump arrives and is introduced at the United States Capitol in the lead up to tonight’s State of the Union.

Al Green was again escorted out of the hall after flashing a sign that said “Black people aren’t apes.” He was escorted out of last year’s SOTU due to repeated outbursts during President Trump’s SOTU Address.

According to President Donald J. Trump, the United States has received more than 80 million barrels of oil since new Venezuelan leadership took charge. This announcement follows the significant increase in bilateral cooperation on Venezuela’s oil industry following the capture of Venezuela’s previous President Nicholas Maduro.

President Donald J. Trump advocates for a bill banning stock trading for members of Congress.

Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe and the family of late National Guardsman Specialist Sarah Beckstrom are awarded/presented with the Purple Heart at the SOTUS after being shot in an ambush in Washington, D.C. by an Afghani immigrant, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, last November.

As many predicted, President Donald J. Trump has reiterated his administration’s stance on Iran, saying that they will not be allowed to have nuclear weapons and emphasized the “peace through strength” stratagem championed by the Trump Administration.

Full remarks from President Donald J. Trump regarding Iran during tonight’s State of the Union:

“As President, I will make peace wherever I can, but I will never hesitate to confront threats to America wherever we must. That's why in a breakthrough operation last June, the United States military obliterated Iran's nuclear weapons program with an attack on Iranian soil known as Operation Midnight Hammer.

For decades, it had been the policy of the United States never to allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. Many decades. Since they seized control of that proud nation 47 years ago, the regime and its murderous proxies have spread nothing but terrorism and death and hate.

They've killed and maimed thousands of American service members and hundreds of thousands and even millions of people - with what's called roadside bombs. They were the kings of the roadside bomb. And we took out Soleimani. I did that during my first term. Had a huge impact. He was the father of the roadside bomb. And just over the last couple of months with the protests, they've killed at least, it looks like, 32,000 protesters. 32,000 protesters in their own country. They shot them and hung them. We stopped them from hanging a lot of them with the threat of serious violence. But this is some terrible people.

They've already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas and they're working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America. After Midnight Hammer, they were warned to make no future attempts to rebuild their weapons program in a particular area - nuclear weapons, yet they continue starting it all over. We wiped it out and they want to start all over again and are at this moment again pursuing their sinister ambitions.

We are in negotiations with them. They want to make a deal, but we haven't heard those secret words: ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon.’ My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain: I will never allow the world's number one sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon. Can't let that happen. And no nation should ever doubt America's result.

We have the most powerful military on Earth. I rebuilt the military in my first term. We're going to continue to do so also, which is to prove the trillion-dollar budget. We have no choice. We have to be strong. because hopefully we will seldom have to use this great power that we built together. It's really called peace through strength, and it's been very, very effective. So thanks to Republicans in Congress, we're investing that record number of dollars, have no choice, in the United States Armed Forces.

We're also creating a lot of jobs, but we're not even doing it for that reason. Because, as I said, we have more jobs, more people working today than ever before in the history of our country. And NATO countries are friends and allies. They are. They're our friends and they're our allies. They’ve just agreed, at my very strong request, to pay 5% of GDP for military defense rather than the 2%, which they weren't paying. We were paying for almost all of NATO. Now they're paying 5 as opposed to not paying 5.”

Video credit: @TheLukeReport