UPI is reporting the U.S. Air Force has begun flying combat aircraft into Iranian airspace in what could be viewed as an act of war. The report comes less than two weeks after investigative journalist Seymour Hersh reported that secret US forces are already on the ground locating possible sites to target.

According to UPI, the US military is hoping to lure Tehran into turning on its air defense radars which would allow US pilots to pinpoint where the radar systems are located so they could be targeted during an invasion.

UPI also reports that US Special Forces are using Iraqi Kurds near the Iranian border as well as members of the Iranian opposition group Mujahedeen-e Khalq or MEK to gather intelligence inside Iran. UPI reports the MEK are now launching incursions into Iran from Basra as well as Pakistan.

One longtime CIA operator in the region said “This looks to be turning into a pretty large-scale covert operation.” UPI also reports the US has begun creating a network of front companies inside Iran in order to be able to move money, weapons and personnel around inside the country,