Right-wing independent journalists claim to have insider knowledge.

Unconfirmed reports from several X (formerly Twitter) users who claim to have insider knowledge from employees within the US Customs & Border Patrol began to circulate on social media Friday that as many as 9 surface-to-air missiles had been smuggled across the southern border in New Mexico.

Ann Vandersteel, a right-wing journalist and host of ‘Operation Burning Edge,’ first posted the claims on X on September 26, stating,  “Intelligence just in from the southern border that 9 surface-to-air missiles have been smuggled into the U.S. across the New Mexico border. Intended target: Trump Force One. Unconfirmed [p]ossible Iranian origin Three 3 man teams were intended to take delivery of the missiles.”

Vandersteel also suggested the missiles could be of Iranian origin and that the operation was linked to the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, but did not provide verifiable evidence to back these claims, only stating that "a confidential human source relayed [the information] to Doc Pete Chambers and Baz ARC."

Chambers and Baz are right-wing independent journalists who claim to have connections to high-ranking officials within the military, law enforcement and border patrol through their network of whistleblowers and tipsters.

According to these alleged reports, agents working on behalf of Iran arranged for the Sinaloa Cartel to get three shoulder-launched weapons known as MANPADS (man-portable air defense system across the border, where they would then be handed off to three teams of Islamic extremists with connections to Tehran.

It’s expected that the MANPADS would be of Soviet-era Russian manufacturing, as Iran relies heavily on such weapons, often provided through trade agreements by Russian President Vladimir Putin from the nation’s stockpile of USSR armaments.

These man-portable systems aren’t capable of tracking or reaching planes cruising at high altitude, but are particularly effective at destroying aerial targets beneath 4,000 feet, such as during takeoff or landing. Which is of particular concern given the alleged target, none other than Trump Force One, former president Donald Trump’s personal Boeing 757.

Given the heightened tensions between the US and Iran over Israel’s incursions in Lebanon in response to Hezbollah attacks, and Trump’s hardline rhetoric towards the regime in Tehran, it does make sense that he would be concerned about potential threats affiliated with the region’s Shiite radicals.

If true, this would mark the third assassination attempt on Trump’s life in 2024. Trump himself posted on X on September 25, addressing threats from Iran. “Big threats on my life by Iran. The entire U.S. Military is watching and waiting,” Trump said, referencing potential assassination attempts and warning that any attack on a former president would have serious consequences.

As of this writing, neither the FBI nor the Secret Service has either confirmed or denied any active assassination plots against Trump linked to Iran. These claims remain unverified, so stay tuned for more updates as the story develops.