Debka:  Some 20,000 marines, seamen and air crews from six countries, a US nuclear aircraft carrier strike group and three US Marine gunship carriers are practicing an attack on a fictitious mechanized enemy division which has invaded its neighbor in the largest amphibian exercise seen in the West for a decade.  Bold Alligator 2012 simulates an Iranian invasion and a coalition marine landing on the Iranian coast.  DEBKAfile:  it is the prelude to the stationing of a large aircraft carrier and marine force opposite Iran.  The exercise is scheduled to end on February 14, 2012, a week before the winding up of the Iranian drill which began on the same day.  Three participants are to be shipped out to Persian Gulf positions opposite Iran.  Altogether three American aircraft carrier strike groups, the French Charles de Gaulle carrier and four or five US Marines amphibian vessels will be posted there, DEBKAfile's military sources report. 

The question is no longer if armed hostilities against Iran are afoot, but when.  Tehran too is gearing up with a new three-week "exercise" and calling allies to the flag, including Syria.  DEBKAfile:  The "exercise" is in fact an Iranian military buildup ahead of a possible American or Israel attack.  The appalling bloodbath in Syria has reached a scale 350 Saturday, February 4 alone, which potentially rivals nuclear Iran as the trigger for a Middle East confrontation.  DEBKAfile's military sources report a steady flow of many thousands of US troops to two strategic islands within reach of Iran, Oman's Masiah just south of the Strait of Hormuz and Socotra, between Yemen and the Horn of Africa.  Our military sources report that large Saudi forces are now deployed around the oil fields, pipelines and export facilities in the eastern provinces opposite the Persian Gulf, backed by antimissile patriot PAC-3 batteries.  American, British and French fighter bombers have been landing at Saudi air bases to safeguard the capital Riyadh.  Israel has accelerated, expanded and focused its military drill regimen for the coming conflict.  Tuesday, January 31, a division-scale exercise practiced the drafting of reservists under heavy missile bombardment of military bases, induction centers, national highways and towns from at least three directions: Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, as well as Iran.  Thursday, February 2, Military Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. Avivi Kochavi disclosed that 200,000 missiles and rockets, including thousands of long-range projectiles were currently pointed at Israel, the only country in the world facing a threat on this scale. 

Kahamenei says Iran will assist any nation or group that "confronts" Israel, which he called "cancer."  Iran will never halt its nuclear program and will close Hormuz whenever it chooses. 

Iran announces a new three-week exercise in the South and Strait of Hormuz to drill forces in war conditions.

Iranian Ambassador to Moscow says his country can hit US military forces anywhere in the world if attacked by them. 

Iran launches its third satellite into orbit 250-370 km above the earth.  Space program using Safir rockets usable for ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads.

Israeli facilities and Jewish centers in North America and around the world on high terror alert for increasing Iranian terror threats. 

EconomicTimes.IndiaTimes.com (excerpts):  Moscow /St Petersburg - Russia and Iran warned the West against a military strike on the Islamic Republic on Monday, saying an attack targeting its nuclear program would lead to civilian casualties and create new threats to global security.  Russia, which built Iran's first nuclear power station, has vociferously opposed any military action. 

Arutz Sheva (excerpt):  Russia:  An attack on Tehran is an attack on Moscow.  Russia has given Iran its bear hug and warns Israel and the West that an attack on Tehran would be considered an attack on Moscow.  

Commentary:  There you have it; Bible prophecy being fulfilled right before our eyes.  If you have ever read Ezekiel 38, you can see that the nations discussed in these articles are also among those who come against Israel in the last days.  I make no hesitation declaring that the Lord will return in this generation, as the Bible describes what we are seeing right now, as the last days. 

"Son of man (Ezekiel), set your face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal (Russia) and prophesy against him and say, 'Thus saith the Lord God, behold, I am against you, oh Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal...After many days, you will be visited: in the latter years you will come into the land that has been brought back from the sword (destruction) and gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have always been waste, but it has been brought forth out of the nations, and all of them will dwell safely.  You will descend and come like a storm; you will be like a cloud to cover the land, you and all your bands and many people with you...And you will come from your place out of the north parts, you and many people with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army.  You will come up against My people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it will be in the latter days, and I will bring you against My land, that the heathen may know Me, when I will be sanctified in you, oh Gog, before their eyes.  Thus saith the Lord God, Are you he of whom I have spoken of in old time by My servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days, many years, that I would bring you against them?  It will come to pass at the same time, when Gog (Russia) comes against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury will rise up in My face; for in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath, I have spoken, Surely in that day there will be a great shaking in the land of Israel.  The fishes of the sea, the fowls of heaven, the bests of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are on the face of the earth will shake at My presence.  The mountains will be thrown down, the steep places will fall and every wall will fall to the ground.  I will call for a sword against him throughout all My mountains, saith the Lord God; every man's sword will be against his brother.  I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; I will rain upon him, upon his bands and the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, great hailstones, fire and brimstone.  Thus, I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations and they will know that I am the Lord."  Ezekiel 38:1-3, 8-9, 15-23.