MIDDLE EAST : ALL MILITARY AIRCRAFT TRANSPONDERS TURNED **OFF** IN EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA + IRAN? MISSILES IN VENEZUALA!

https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/urgent-all-military-aircraft-transponders-turned-off-in-eastern-mediterranean-sea

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ALL MILITARY AIRCRAFT TRANSPONDERS TURNED **OFF** IN EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA

WORLD NEWS DESK 24 NOVEMBER 2020  HITS: 30529

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Something seems to be "up."   All military U.S. and Allied aircraft in the eastern Mediterranean Sea have turned OFF their air traffic flight transponders.  Put simply "they've gone dark."
This is unusual insofar as the military is keenly aware of the need for civilian aviation to be able to track military aircraft so as to avoid collisions.

This type of "going dark is __usually__ (but not always) hint of a pending major air strike.  But BY whom and AGAINST whom are the big questions.
More info as i get it.  Check back. . .
 
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https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/israeli-military-prepares-possible-trump-preemptive-attack-iran-axios?utm

Israeli Military Prepares For Possible Trump Preemptive Attack On Iran: Axios




[size=10][size=10]by Tyler Durden
Wed, 11/25/2020 - 11:30Twitter[/size]

With just weeks to go to President-Elect Joe Biden's being inaugurated on January 20, Axios reports that Israel is preparing for the possibility that Trump will launch a preemptive attack on Iran.
Axios' Barak Ravid reports from Tel Aviv that "The Israel Defense Forces have in recent weeks been instructed to prepare for the possibility that the U.S. will conduct a military strike against Iran before President Trump leaves office, senior Israeli officials tell me."
Via Asia Times
While not citing specific intelligence, Ravid says Israeli military and intelligence leaders are anticipating "a very sensitive period" just ahead of the inauguration and Trump's exiting the White House.
According to the report:
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Quote :

The IDF's preparedness measures relate to possible Iranian retaliation against Israel directly or through Iranian proxies in Syria, Gaza and Lebanon, the Israeli officials said.

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Meanwhile, are we already witnessing the first 'provocation' which is to be blamed on Iran as pretext?

Earlier this month The New York Times reported that President Trump had to be talked out of preemptive strikes on Iran by his own top advisers, who warned it could easily spiral into a major war in only the last weeks of his presidency.
That report included the following mention that not all "options" may have been placed off the table at that time:
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After Mr. Pompeo and General Milley described the potential risks of military escalation, officials left the meeting believing a missile attack inside Iran was off the table, according to administration officials with knowledge of the meeting.
Mr. Trump might still be looking at ways to strike Iranian assets and allies, including militias in Iraq, officials said. A smaller group of national security aides had met late Wednesday to discuss Iran, the day before the meeting with the president.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/iran-directs-military-allies-be-high-alert-trumps-final-weeks-office



Iran Directs Military & Allies Be On "High Alert" In Trump's Final Weeks In Office




[size=10][size=10]by Tyler Durden
Sat, 11/21/2020 - 15:45[/size]




Iran's military has issued instructions for all regional allies to be on "high alert" during these last week's of Trump's presidency, fearing that any provocation or escalation in tensions whether intentional or not could be used as justification by the White House to attack Iran or partners in the Middle East. 
The Associated Press cited Iraqi officials who said they were notified that "provoking tensions with the US that could give an outgoing Trump administration cause to launch attacks in the US president’s final weeks in office."
Image via The Guardian
"The request - delivered by a senior Iranian general to allies in Baghdad this week - reflects the growing regional anxiety over President Donald Trump’s unpredictable behavior and the uncertainty in the chaotic transition period until President-elect Joe Biden takes over in two months," the AP said further.
While Tehran has been in celebratory mood given the defeat of Trump in the US election, which means the end of his and Pompeo's 'maximum pressure' policy, there are fears the administration could do something dramatic prior to Biden being inaugurated on Jan.20.
Days ago a top military adviser to Iran's supreme leader, Hossein Dehghan, told the AP in an interview that Washington needs to understand that any act of military aggression would mean "full-fledged war" in the region as Iran won't hesitate to respond. 
"We don’t welcome war. We are not after starting a war," Dehghan - who is also closely connected to the elite IRGC said.
Early this past week The New York Times reported that President Trump wanted to preemptively attack Iran's nuclear facilities but had to be talked out of it in a meeting with cabinet members the prior Thursday:
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President Trump asked senior advisers in an Oval Office meeting on Thursday whether he had options to take action against Iran’s main nuclear site in the coming weeks. The meeting occurred a day after international inspectors reported a significant increase in the country’s stockpile of nuclear material, four current and former U.S. officials said on Monday.

Apparently Iran itself is taking this possibility very seriously as they wait with bated breath for Biden to assume office, given he has promised to try and restore US participation in the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA).
Meanwhile Tehran is strongly signaling the Biden transition team that it's ready to talk:

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201028-despite-threats-sanctions-by-us-iran-plane-lands-in-venezuela/

Despite threats, sanctions by US, Iran plane lands in Venezuela

October 28, 2020 at 2:41 pm | Published in: Asia & Americas, Iran, Middle East, News, US, Venezuela

Iranian plane, owned by Qeshm Fars Air on 5 March 2011 [Steven Byles/Wikipedia]


October 28, 2020 at 2:41 pm

[size=18]An Iranian plane owned by a company said to be sanctioned by the US over alleged weapons shipments to Syria, landed in Venezuela yesterday, according to a Venezuelan opposition lawmaker and flight tracking data, reports Reuters.
Posting on Twitter, Jose Manuel Olivares who represents the state of Vargas said the EP-FAB 747 aircraft is owned by Iran's Qeshm Fars Air and landed at Simon Bolivar International Airport, also known as Maiquetia airport, west of the capital Caracas.
The flight tracking website Flightradar24 showed the aircraft descending toward Caracas around 4pm local time after taking off in Tehran the previous night. The plane made stops in Tunisia and Cape Verde before flying to Venezuela, according to the data.
Both countries have seen their ties grow stronger as they seek to mitigate their respective economic crises which have worsened due to US imposed sanctions. Tehran has also helped Venezuela overcome its fuel shortage and has sent several flotillas of tankers despite threats made by the US to seize them. Venezuela has in turn provided Iran with up to $500 million worth of gold as its currency spiralled downwards.
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Earlier this week US special envoy for both countries, Elliott Abrams announced his country would "eliminate" any long-range missile shipments made from Iran to the South American country. "We will make every effort to stop shipments of long-range missiles, and if somehow they get to Venezuela they will be eliminated there," Abrams told Fox News.
In August, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said it would be a "good idea" for his country to purchase Iranian missiles a day after neighbouring Colombia accused his government of planning to buy the weapons.
As of 18 October, the UN Security Council arms embargo imposed on Tehran was lifted leaving Iran free to legally buy and sell conventional weapons without violating the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) which the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from in 2018 and failed in its bid to have the embargo extended.
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