As of 10:38 PM eastern US time, the United States is in the process of surging aerial refueling tankers over the Pacific Ocean from Hawaii toward Diego Garcia and onward from there.
At least EIGHT such tankers (as shown in the FILE PHOTO above) are now airborne.
This is consistent with a refuel hop before Diego Garcia +/ onward ops (often alongside long-range assets).
The same surge happened before strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.
Earlier, but related:
At 5:47 PM eastern time tonight, President Trump entered an "Emergency Meeting" about Iran in the Oval Office. Rubio, Hegseth, CIA Director Ratcliffe, DNI Gabbard, Joint Chiefs Chairman Caine, and VP Vance were all there. That was the Decision-Makers meeting.
After that meeting, CJCS Dan Cain departed, then returned at about 7:22 PM.
As that meeting ended, Iran published an eight second video of a Transporter-Erector-Launcher truck moving in an underground tunnel carrying a massive missile with the words "Expect the end of Israel, tonight." Here:
🚨 BREAKING: Iran releases a threatening video, stating: "Expect the end of Israel tonight." pic.twitter.com/vXnnVhikNA
— The Middle East (@A_M_R_M1) January 14, 2026
Here we are, just three hours later, KC-135 refueling tankers are surging into the Pacific.
Looks to me that a decision on Iran has, in fact, been made.
HT Remark: Russia and China cannot afford to lose Iran. Russia receives most of its military Drones from Iran, for use in Ukraine. China receives most of its OIL from Iran. Neither Russia nor China have the luxury of sitting back and doing nothing if Iran is attacked.
Tonight-into-tomorrow could change the whole world.
UPDATE 11:22 PM EST --
A separate thing to look for is the presence of assets that can launch Anti-Ballistic-Missiles (ABM's)s like the SM-3 to defend Israel from Iranian ballistic missile attacks.
Based on public information there are three Aegis destroyers in the theater - two are in the Persian Gulf, and one is in the Red Sea. Nothing in the Mediterranean, which is where 5 USN guided missile ships were deployed during the 12 Day War.
It's probably the most favorable location for interceptor launches so it's telling that there's nothing there.
IF the U.S. intends to attack Iran, I suspect that both the Aegis Class Destroyers in the Persian Gulf will be sunk by Iran. Maybe the third Destroyer in the Red Sea as well.
With the apparent absence of Destroyers in the Mediterranean, it seems on its face that Israel could be hit extremely badly if the Iranians launch.
Maybe that's exactly what the powers-that-be want: Serious and widespread destruction inside Israel and the sinking of US naval vessels, all of which would instantly galvanize the American people into war.
