Military Buildup In The Middle East Continues, Including What Trump Describes As A “Big Flotilla”

TWZ ^ | 01/23/2026 | Howard Altman

[thegagline]

The U.S. is continuing to build up its military presence in the Middle East ahead of a possible attack on Iran. The USS Abraham Lincoln and its Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is now in the Indian Ocean, a U.S. Navy official told The War Zone on Thursday. The CSG was in the South China Sea until U.S. President Donald Trump ordered it moved west. In addition, more cargo jets and aerial refueling tankers have arrived in the region. Trump on Thursday said a large naval presence is heading to the region.

These movements come as Trump has threatened to strike Iran over its brutal treatment of anti-government protesters, which has resulted in thousands of deaths.

“We have a big flotilla going in that direction, and we’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters Thursday afternoon. “We have a big force going toward Iran. I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely.”

“We have an armada,” Trump added after claiming he “stopped 837 hangings on Thursday…We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it. We’ll see.” Aside from threatening to strike Iran, Trump on Jan. 13 also promised those taking to the streets that help was on its way.

However, he relented after being told the killings would stop and reportedly called off a strike against Iran last week. According to some accounts, Trump does not want to become involved in a protracted battle with Iran while still contemplating regime change. There are lingering concerns in Washington and Jerusalem about not having enough assets in the region to defend against an expected Iranian response, which in part led Israel to urge Trump to hold off any attack. This was also our analysis at the time.***

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TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bigflotilla; flotilla; hangings; indianocean; iran; israel; jimtroll; unrest; ussabrahamlincoln; war

[jimwatx]

Yeah well good luck with that. Russia and China have been flying in huge amounts of advanced military equipment to Iran including missiles capable of taking out an aircraft carrier. China has given Iran advanced military equipment that they’ve never allowed to be exported before. An attack on Iran at this point is unlikely to go well.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Russia and China have been flying in huge amounts of advanced military equipment to Iran

Russian and Chinese advanced military equipment has recently been proven to suck.

[Starboard]

“We have an armada,” Trump added after claiming he “stopped 837 hangings on Thursday…

*************

Sounds good but this doesn’t prevent the regime from torturing, starving, or beating the dissenters to death instead.

[Midwesterner53]

Get all the pieces in place and then give the Mullahs 48 hours to get out.

[PghBaldy]

I thought it said this. I need to take a nap.:

"We have a big tortilla going in that direction, and we’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters Thursday afternoon. “

[Time_Has_Come]

The executions continue. Tehran’s prosecutor ridiculed Trump’s statement: “Trump says a lot of worthless stuff, and he is a fool for doing so. We will continue with executions.”

But they don’t need to execute. They have more inhumane means. The IRGC have attacked hospitals. They didn’t just execute the wounded, they also forbade doctors from giving blood transfusions.

What they committed in 48 hours is one of the greatest crimes against humanity ... probably since Rwanda.

[griffin]

Hey, Vlad and Hu Hung Lo....

your useless crap didnt work last time. Can I buy some more!?

[Chad_the_Impaler]

Get all the pieces in place and then give the Mullahs 48 hours to get out.

Are religious extremists and armageddonists the type to flee when the epic civilizational battle starts?

[Midwesterner53]

Absolutely, they are cowards at heart who can get their cash and leave in a heartbeat.

[Chad_the_Impaler]

I would think true believers would be afraid that to flee the righteous fight (jihad) would grant them a one-way ticket to hell. Fighting Israel and the US is their life’s work.

[spokeshave]

Including What Trump Describes As A “Big Flotilla”

I guess that is a Carrier strike force,,,accompanied by support ships and The Arleigh Burke class of guided-missile destroyers

?

[jjotto]

Some reports have strike group Bush joining strike group Lincoln focused on Iran. That’s a lot of flotilla.

[Carriage Hill]

Lots of floating targets.

[mac_truck]

There are lingering concerns in Washington and Jerusalem about not having enough assets in the region to defend against an expected Iranian response, which in part led Israel to urge Trump to hold off any attack.

👀

[thegagline]

We have a big tortilla going in that direction,

Well, let the chips fall where they may

[decal]

I never salsa such a thing.

[thegagline]

he “stopped 837 hangings on Thursday…”

So a 800% reduction in hangings… 😜

[thegagline]

I never salsa such a thing

That’s not my poblano

[Vermont Lt]

He will wait until Sunday night or Monday. Most of the country will be hunkering down from this massive storm. it will give us something to watch. I got popcorn ready to go.