A U.S. Air Force RC-135W Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft is conducting reconnaissance off southern Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, according to an intelligence desk report.
A U.S. Air Force RC-135W Rivet Joint — a signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft — is airborne near southern Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, an intelligence desk report states. The patrol follows hours of U.S. aerial activity against Iranian targets, including earlier reports of an E-3B Sentry patrol in the same area at around 00:06 Jerusalem and an unverified claim of an MQ-9 Reaper downing on June 10. The Rivet Joint's mission is likely to intercept communications and electronic emissions, providing real-time battlefield intelligence. The patrol underscores ongoing U.S. force posture in the region, with multiple U.S. and Iran-linked incidents reported in the Strait of Hormuz over recent days. No U.S. Central Command statement has been issued on this specific flight. The Zioneer reported earlier this week on the broader pattern of U.S. reconnaissance and strikes near Iran.
2 developments
- DevelopingIRGC-adjacent source claims downing of US MQ-9 Reaper drone in Strait of Hormuz
- StrongIran fires warning shots at US vessels in Strait of Hormuz
- ConfirmedUS targets around the Strait of Hormuz exposed to potential threats
- StrongIran continues cruise missile launches toward US warships in Strait of Hormuz
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
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