Sickening footage shows Iran regime machine-gunning protesters | World | News
Horrifying footage smuggled out of Iran shows the moment regime forces appear to open fire on protesters during a brutal crackdown which is feared to have left 12,000 dead. RAF warplanes are now arriving in the Middle East as the West could be on the brink of finalising a response to the murderous put-down of demonstrations by the Islamic Republic over the past few weeks.
A massive military build-up is underway in the Gulf State of Qatar, the nearest staging post for any strike on Iran, with a US carrier strike group and missile-armed destroyers also entering the region. Qatar is home to the enormous Al Udeid Air Base, which houses both American and British armed forces.
The movement of hardware comes as US President Donald Trump appears to be mulling an attack on Iran over the regime’s treatment of protesters during demonstrations that rocked the nation this month, sparked by a spiralling economy and cost of living pressures for ordinary Iranians.
Human rights agencies estimate as many as 12,000 civilians could have been killed in subsequent crackdowns by the authorities, with as many as 27,600 detained during an arrest campaign.
As many as 800 of those arrested were said to have been set for hanging, according to the White House, but Trump’s Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the executions were “halted” last Thursday, which the president welcomed as “good news”. The Iranian regime has denied any hangings were scheduled.
Washington had been criticised for seemingly calling off a military response, but speaking to reporters on board Air Force One on Thursday Trump said US ships were moving toward Iran “just in case” he wants to take action. “We have a massive fleet heading in that direction and maybe we won’t have to use it,” Trump said.
The hardline Islamic Republic government of Iran is accused of killing protesters during a wave of terror after cutting-off the country from the internet and the outside world on January 9. Huge demonstrations had broken out across the nation earlier this month in response to a spiralling economy and cost of living crisis for ordinary Iranians.
In videos seen by the Daily Express truck loads of heavily armed men, some dressed in riot gear and military fatigues, are seen marauding the streets of what looks to be a large city.
The BBC Persian network reports photographs have shown masked security forces with Russian-made Dushka heavy weapons mounted on 4X4s ordering civilians to remain indoors. In one video the men waving machine guns from the back of a vehicle can be heard shouting “Khamenei”, the name of Iran’s Supreme Leader, or Ayatollah.
In other images shared on exiled Iranian TV channels, protesters can be seen running for their lives as the sound of gunfire cracks in the background of a nighttime protest in an unknown location. Several of the demonstrators running past the camera can be seen bleeding heavily from wounds to their legs, another person is also caught on camera being carried away. A source told the Daily Express the videos were genuine.
Footage also shows a man in the back of a black Toyota 4X4 firing down a residential street towards a crowd.
Announcing British fighter planes heading to the region, the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) said: “The Royal Air Force’s joint Typhoon squadron with Qatar, 12 Squadron, has deployed to the Gulf for defensive purposes noting regional tensions as part of the UK-Qatar Defence Assurance Agreement, demonstrating the strong and enduring defence relationship between the UK and Qatar.”
The MOD added that 12 Squadron has regularly deployed to Qatar to conduct joint training and share experiences which enhance national and regional security.
In a January 22 statement, Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “Qatar and the UK are close partners with historic defence ties going back decades. This partnership bolsters the national security of both our nations and supports stability in the Gulf region.
“Today’s deployment builds on those shared aims as Typhoon jets from our joint squadron deploy to support its defence.”
The deployment comes in the week the UK government announced half a billion pounds investment to upgrade their Typhoons.
The MOD added: “The deployment, upon invitation of the Qatari government, is in a defensive capacity and builds on the UK’s established defence partnership with Qatar and reflects the UK Government’s commitment to collaborating with international partners to maintain regional stability.”
