Fears of a coordinated strike on Iran reached a new peak today after the US Army briefly uploaded—and then scrubbed—photos of its “Dark Eagle” hypersonic missile. This mysterious digital slip-up occurred as social media footage confirmed the arrival of F-22 stealth fighters at Crete’s Chania Airport
Speculation of an imminent US military operation against Iran has reached a fever pitch this week following high-profile military movements in the Mediterranean and a mysterious digital “slip-up” by the Pentagon.
Eyewitnesses and flight-tracking enthusiasts at Greece’s Chania International Airport, which shares a runway with the Souda Bay Naval Base, have reported the arrival of multiple F-22 Raptor stealth fighters. Social media has been flooded with videos showing the advanced aircraft landing on the island of Crete, a strategic gateway to the Middle East.
While the Pentagon describes the deployment as a routine movement to “bolster regional stability,” the presence of the world’s premier air-superiority fighter so close to Iranian airspace is being viewed by military analysts as a clear signal of readiness for a potential “Day One” strike package.
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The ‘Dark Eagle’ mystery
Adding to the tension, the United States Army briefly published official photos of its Dark Eagle Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) on its social media channels before abruptly deleting them without explanation.
The Dark Eagle is a ground-launched missile capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5, making it virtually impossible to intercept with current Iranian air defences.
Defense observers noted that the images appeared to show the weapon in a high state of operational readiness. The sudden removal of the photos has fueled theories that the system—the first of its kind in the US arsenal—may have been deployed to a forward location ahead of a potential conflict.
Trump issues final deadlines
The military buildup coincides with a tightening diplomatic vise. President Trump has issued a series of public deadlines for Tehran to accept a “fair deal” regarding its nuclear enrichment and regional activities. During a recent briefing, Trump noted that a “massive armada” is now in position, warning that “bad things will happen” if a breakthrough is not reached within the coming days.
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