MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

By Barbara Starr, CNN – “Two Iranian Su-25 fighter jets fired on an unarmed U.S. Air Force Predator drone in the Persian Gulf last week, CNN has learned.

The incident raises fresh concerns within the Obama administration about Iranian military aggression in crucial Gulf oil shipping lanes.

The drone was in international airspace east of Kuwait, U.S. officials said, adding it was engaged in routine maritime surveillance.

Although the drone was not hit, the Pentagon is concerned.

Two U.S. officials explained the jets were part of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps force, which has been more confrontational than regular Iranian military forces.

The Obama administration did not disclose the incident, which occurred just days before the presidential election on November 1, but three senior officials confirmed the details to CNN.

The officials declined to be identified because of sensitive intelligence matters surrounding the matter.

The drone’s still and video cameras captured the incident showing two SU-25s approaching the Predator and firing its onboard guns.

The Iranian pilots continued to fire shots that went beneath the Predator but were never successful in hitting it, according to the officials.

U.S. military intelligence analysts are still not sure if the Iranian pilots simply were unable to hit the drone due to lack of combat skill, or whether they deliberately were missing and had no intention of bringing down the drone. But as one of the officials said, ‘it doesn’t matter, they fired on us.'” Read more.

Flashback: Report: Iranian Navy Announces They Will Send Military Warships Close to the US Atlantic Coast – “Iran raised the prospect on Tuesday of sending military ships close to the United States’ Atlantic coast, in what would be a major escalation of tensions between the long-standing adversaries. ‘Like the arrogant powers that are present near our marine borders, we will also have a powerful presence close to American marine borders,’ the head of the Navy, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said, according to the official IRNA news agency.” Read more.

Flashback: Iran Declares Intent To Enrich Uranium To 90% For Military Purposes – “In recent months, Iranian regime spokesmen have conducted a campaign of statements regarding Iran’s intent to enrich uranium for use in nuclear-fueled ships and submarines – the latter a patently military use of nuclear power,’ reported the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) last month. ‘Regime officials, regime dailies, and websites close to the regime issued no fewer than 12 such statements, in which they declared Iran’s intent to enrich uranium for nuclear fuel to power both surface sea craft and submarines. It should be noted that while nuclear fuel for surface craft entails uranium enrichment of 50-60%, nuclear-powered submarines require enrichment of 90%, which is the same level needed for the production of a nuclear bomb.” Read more.