Proceedings Photo of the Week: The merchant vessel Seaway Hawk sails in the Arabian Gulf, transporting decommissioned U.S. Navy Avenger-class Mine Countermeasures Ships, USS Devastator, USS Dextrous, USS Gladiator and USS Sentry. U.S. Navy (Iain Page)
NOTAM (B0051/26) Exposes Upcoming "Naval Ambush": Iran Establishes "Live-Fire Zone" in Mid-Gulf Next Week... While "Jask" NOTAM Enters Final Hours.
— Talal Nahle
Updated Strategic Report (Thursday Afternoon – January 29):
Based on a close examination of the NOTAM file, the "Strait Choking" plan is becoming clear.
Below are the exclusive details of the new NOTAM:
1. NOTAM (B0051/26) Revealed: Next Week’s "Trap"
A highly critical and precisely defined NOTAM has been issued for the coming week:
* NOTAM Number: B0051/26
* Location: Coordinates 26°18'N 54°31'E are located in the heart of the Persian Gulf, south of "Kish" Island and west of "Siri" Island. This area is directly adjacent to international shipping lanes and oil tanker routes.
* Timing: From Tuesday, February 3, to Thursday, February 5.
* Type: Live-fire exercises at a very low altitude range (1,700 ft).
* Analysis: Low-altitude firing in the middle of the sea indicates training for "Fast Attack Craft" or "Surface-to-Surface Cruise Missiles." Iran effectively plans to sever the maritime trade route in this sector for three consecutive days next week. This serves as a "warning regarding the consequences of closing the Strait of Hormuz."
2. NOTAM (A0358/26): The Calm Before the Storm
* Status: The closure NOTAM for the "Jask" area (the gateway to the Strait) remains active and expires tonight at 20:30 UTC.
* Scenario: The fact that it has not been extended yet likely signifies a shift, moving the "ambush" inside the Gulf (NOTAM B0051) for the coming week.
3. The "Rolling Closure" Strategy
Iran is implementing a calculated strategy:
* Today (Thursday): Closing the Outer Gate (Jask).
* Saturday (Jan 31): Closing the Central Coast (Bushehr).
* Tuesday (Feb 3): Closing the Inner Corridor (Siri Island/NOTAM B0051).
* Objective: To keep U.S. forces in a state of permanent attrition and force commercial vessels to halt out of fear of "stray fire."
Operational Summary:
* Tonight (20:30 UTC): The Jask closure ends.
* Next Week (Feb 3): "Maritime Terror" begins in the middle of the Gulf (NOTAM B0051).
Assessment:
Iran is not intimidated by the military buildup; rather, it responds by "scheduling war." Scheduling live-fire exercises in the middle of shipping lanes for next week is a direct challenge to the U.S. Armada: "Will you dare enter the zone where we are firing?" NOTAM B0051 is a ticking "mine" in the path of global trade.