Recalling Trump’s comments about what he will do if demonstrators are killed - coincidence or not. Any exercises taking place?
Something unusual appears to be going on today at RAF Fairford near Gloucestershire in the United Kingdom, with at least 10 C-17A Globemaster IIIs with the U.S. Air Force arriving at the base or currently crossing the Atlantic from the United States.
Almost all of the C-17s appear to be out of either Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia, the home of the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment and the 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR); or Campbell Army Airfield in Kentucky, which houses the 101st Airborne Division and the 1st/2nd Battalions of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR).
Several heavy C-17A Globemaster III strategic airlifters and KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft have conducted transatlantic flights from the United States to various air bases across Europe.
A noteworthy detail is that one of the C-17A aircraft departed from Fort Campbell, located in the state of Kentucky, where the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) — the “Night Stalkers” — is based. This unit was established directly after the failed U.S. rescue operation in Iran in 1980, specializes in Delta Force missions, and most likely participated in the operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
At least two C-17A aircraft have already landed in Germany at Ramstein Air Base, with several others arriving in the United Kingdom.
The last time logistics flights of such scale were observed was during last year’s strikes on Iran. This time, in addition to the scope of the movement, particular attention is drawn to the fact that flights originated from the base of the Special Operations Aviation Regiment — raising the question: is the time of Ali Khamenei approaching?
🚨It is 7:00 a.m. in Tehran on January 4. Below is my second update, outlining 15 key developments from last night’s protests in Iran.
1⃣ Day seven marked the largest day of protests so far, both in terms of geographic spread and the number of participants.
2⃣Demonstrations were reported in at least 60 cities and towns, with some estimates placing the number as high as 90 locations nationwide.
3⃣Today was also the bloodiest day of the protests.
4⃣ While repression had already intensified over the past two days, the escalation became unmistakable after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s speech, in which he declared that “rioters must be put in their place.”
5⃣ Following those remarks, live fire and security crackdowns clearly increased. Available reports indicate that between 10 and 17 people were killed today.
6⃣ Instagram, Iran’s most widely used social media platform, is now flooded with images of slain young men and women, alongside waves of condolence messages from friends, relatives, and ordinary users.
7⃣ Women’s participation in the protests is noticeably higher than in the early days.
8⃣ A significant portion of the protesters are from Generation Z, including high school students.
9⃣On day seven, retaliatory actions by protesters became more prominent: attacks on security forces, overturning repression vehicles, stone-throwing, burning banners of Khamenei, and destroying statues and symbols associated with Qassem Soleimani.
🔟Although diaspora media outlets publish confirmed arrest figures, when regime media reports, statements by local officials, field videos, and eyewitness accounts are taken together, the number of detainees is almost certainly well above 1,000—likely far higher. Many local incidents never make it into national or international reporting.
11. On social media—especially Instagram—a wave of creative, satirical, and openly critical videos has emerged, including content directly questioning why Mossad or Israel have not intervened. This reflects a growing sense of expectations of external action.
12. For the first time in Tehran, two video chants explicitly mentioned Donald Trump.
13. Developments surrounding Nicolas Maduro’s arrest gained traction online, with users explicitly drawing parallels and calling for a comparable response toward the Iranian regime.
14. At the same time, chants supporting Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi continue widely, and his leadership role appears increasingly consolidated among large segments of the protesters.
15. Following the appointment of Ali Javanmardi as Voice of America Persian’s senior supervisor last week—a figure known for his staunch opposition to Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, a history of gender-based insults against Pahlavi’s wife, and journalistic conspiracy narratives that have led to his boycott by much of the Persian-language diaspora media—reports indicate that Javanmardi reportedly made it clear to VOA staff to censor protest slogans in favor of Pahlavi such as “Javid Shah” and “This is the final battle—Pahlavi will return.”
This has triggered widespread public outrage against Voice of America, with many users expressing shock at the appointment and tagging Kari Lake and President Trump to demand their direct intervention.