By SCM Online Reporter
PRESIDENT Donald Trump has ordered a “wall of steel” to be built around the Middle East, rushing advanced air defenses to the region before a potential devastating strike on Iran.
In a move that signals the “big armada” is nearly in position, the Pentagon is deploying additional THAAD and Patriot missile batteries to key bases.
Sources say the high-stakes build-up is designed to “bulletproof” Israel and American frontline troops from a certain Iranian “blood and thunder” retaliation if the trigger is pulled.
The Wall Street Journal reports that US officials are working at “breakneck speed” to ensure defensive systems are live across Israel, Jordan, and Qatar. One senior official warned: “We are making sure that if we hit them, they can’t hit back where it hurts.”
It comes as the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group—described by Trump as a “massive fleet”—takes up a “kill position” in the Arabian Sea.
Tensions have reached a boiling point following a brutal regime crackdown in Tehran that left at least 5,000 protesters dead. Trump, who has already told the Ayatollahs “help is on the way” for the Iranian people, is reportedly weighing a series of “surgical strikes” aimed at toppling the leadership.
However, the Pentagon is taking no chances. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has already warned that any American “miscalculation” would spark a “regional war.”
The extra batteries, including the elite Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, are designed to swat Iranian ballistic missiles out of the sky before they can reach Tel Aviv or US barracks.
A US defense official told the WSJ the aim is “to protect Israel as well as American troops.”
White House insiders suggest Trump is still holding out for a “grand deal” but has set a secret deadline for Tehran to “stop the killing and stop the nukes.”
If they don’t, the “armada” is ready to roar.
The Story Background
The Standoff:
The current crisis was sparked by widespread pro-democracy protests across Iran in late 2025 and January 2026. The regime’s “brutal crackdown” led to thousands of deaths and nationwide internet blackouts.
President Trump has shifted from economic “maximum pressure” to direct military threats, promising to support the Iranian people.
The Military Build-up:
At Sea: The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is currently on station.
In the Air: F-15E Strike Eagles from RAF Lakenheath and F-35 stealth fighters have been moved to forward bases in Jordan and the Mediterranean.
On the Ground: The latest deployment involves THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) and Patriot missile batteries, which provide a multi-layered shield against the kind of ballistic missile salvos Iran used in previous escalations.
The Regional Stakes:
While Israel is in “lockstep” with the US, Arab allies like the UAE and Saudi Arabia have been more cautious, refusing to let their territory be used for offensive strikes to avoid becoming targets.
The US buildup of defensive air systems is partly intended to reassure these allies that they will be protected from any Iranian counter-strike.
