According to a senior Iranian official who spoke recently with The Telegraph, top military commanders in Iran’s Armed Forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are being urged to prepare a “preemptive strike” using long-range ballistic missiles against the U.S-U.K. joint base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, in an attempt to deter U.S. President Donald J. Trump from ordering major strikes against Iran.

This follows the arrival of 6-9 B-2 “Spirit” Long-Range Strategic Stealth Bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia last week, a little more than 2,000 miles from Iran. Another Iranian official further added to the claims of a possible preemptive strike against the island, “Some are suggesting that missiles be fired towards the island, not with the intent to hit anything, but to fall into the water to send a clear message to the Americans that we are serious.”

According to i24NEWS, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait have secretly told Tehran that they will not allow the United States to use their air bases to launch or support military strikes against targets in Iran.

Tomahawk Land-Attack Missiles (TLAMs) being launched against military and infrastructure targets of the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist group in western Yemen, by the Arleigh Burke-Class Guided-Missile Destroyer, USS The Sullivans (DDG-68), while she flies her Battle Flag in the Red Sea.

F/A-18E/F “Super Hornets” with Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) launch from the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) in the Red Sea, for continued strikes against the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist group in Yemen.

China yesterday began one of its largest military exercises yet around Taiwan, with the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Eastern Theater Command deploying Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Rocket Forces to “encircle” and “blockade” areas of the island from multiple directions; in what will likely be the first of many such exercises in the next few years, leading up to an eventual invasion of Taiwan. The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense reports that upwards of 19 Chinese naval vessels, including the Shandong Carrier Strike Group were detected operating around the island, with several entering Taiwan’s Response Zone.

The Taiwanese Kee Lung-Class Destroyers, ROCS Su Ao (DDG-1802) and ROCS Tso Ying (DDG-1803); as well as the Cheng Kung-Class Frigate, ROCS Tian Dan (PFG2-1110); and the Chi Yang-Class Frigate, ROCS Yi Yang (FFG-939), monitor ships of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), including the Shandong Carrier Strike Group, during the ongoing military exercise surrounding Taiwan.

Elements of the Turkish Armed Forces reportedly arrived today at the T-4 Air Base and Palmyra Military Airfield in the Homs Governorate of central Syria, which both were targeted recently by the Israeli Air Force. According to senior Turkish defense officials, S-400 and Hisar-O+ surface-to-air missile batteries will be deployed to the bases alongside long-range strike drones, as Turkey plans to increase strikes against ISIS and to deter further strikes against Syria by Israel.

An infographic made by @Schizointel showing the range of several of Iran’s long-range cruise missiles and ballistic missiles against U.S. Navy and Air Force assets in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. While Iran does posses a handful of missiles and rockets that could reach Diego Garcia, it’s unlikely they would waste them trying to target the airbase, especially considering the response it would bring from the United States.