There are wars that escalate and there are wars where the president tells Axios he is “considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it,” on the same morning that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps is posting messages on Telegram telling civilians across the Gulf to avoid “properties owned by the Trump family, and investments associated with them,” while Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior is sounding missile alarms and telling citizens to “remain calm and head to the nearest safe place.”
It is day 13 of US strikes on Iran. Four American service members are dead. Three were killed in an Iranian missile and drone attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on July 17. A fourth was killed in Iraq the following day during the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters in the Philippines before departing for ASEAN meetings, said Trump wants “a head for an eye” and that Iran will “pay a very heavy price” and is “begging” the US for another deal. Iran is also attacking Bahrain at the time Rubio is saying this.
The IRGC’s Telegram advisory on Friday morning, confirmed by the Fox News live blog updated at 8:36 a.m. EDT, told citizens and residents of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Syria to “immediately maintain a distance of at least 500 meters” from “covert or concealed accommodations used by U.S. military personnel.” The message then listed the specific categories of locations to avoid: “American hotels, American banks, American companies, high-rise towers, properties owned by the Trump family, and investments associated with them.” Iran’s military is issuing consumer brand guidance now. The brand is Trump.
Brent crude oil prices surged above $100 a barrel this morning after Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen attacked two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea, opening what Fox News’s live blog confirms is the Iran war’s second choke point alongside the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthis received the capability to do this on July 13, when Iran flew between 10 and 21 IRGC commanders, military advisers, and munitions from Tehran to Yemen’s Red Sea port city Hodeidah, per Reuters reporting confirmed today. Iran also brought the Houthis gold to fund the attacks. The US military did not interdict the flight. The Houthis attacked Saudi oil tankers with what the flight delivered.
Trump has not yet made a decision on the massive attack. He told Axios Israel “would join in two minutes if I ask them to.” He also said “we don’t need anybody.” Bahrain is sounding missile alarms. Oil is above $100. The Gulf’s civilians are being told to avoid Trump-branded real estate.
When Iran’s military tells Gulf civilians to stay 500 meters away from Trump family properties during a war the US president says he’s about to escalate, what exactly is the targeting list?
Sources
Fox News Live: Iran war, Red Sea, July 24
Fox News Live: Iran war, July 23
