Iran

[Canary Boy]

And those fixed airbases were never placed under attack (in reality). So what is your point in drawing that comparison? As far as PoW is concerned, where would you rather she be, in port or heading for somewhere where it could make a difference? I really don’t give a flying howsyourfather what uniform he wears, what he says is a tad more important, whether one agrees with him or not is a different matter.
Edit - the previous post to which I was initially responding has vapourised!

[AnglianAV8R]

Originally Posted by IAMCHUNKY

Having had a 35 year career as aircrew in the RAF I would like to ask whether people think that our present armed forces are fit for purpose? If not has the Iran conflict exposed our failings and what needs to be done to fix it in a sensible time? To me the HMS Dragon issue seems to show that we aren't really ready to respond to imminent threats but what do you all think please.

Which begs the question as to what their purpose is? I expect you'd get a different answer from each member of the Cabinet for starters.
Decade after decade of cuts and capability gaps, but our politicians still assumed our forces could deliver on the scale of their capabilities at the height of the cold war.
Our people have punched well above weight for a long time, but I think the point has been reached where people realise just how limited our resources are.
Maybe it is time to start cutting the suit according to the cloth and consider priorities over political posturing/virtue signalling.
The man on on the Clapham Omnibus may well opine that a priority to consider might be the defence of our Channel coast for starters.

[higthepig]

Originally Posted by Wyntor

Biggus
Knighton is an engineer that morphed into a forensic accountant. He has no operational credibility.

Nope, he never served at the Somme, Market Garden or Port Stanley etc etc, however, after serving under him for quite a few years, I know that he has a better handle on what needs to be done than an internet warrior.

[DogTailRed2]

Originally Posted by IAMCHUNKY

Having had a 35 year career as aircrew in the RAF I would like to ask whether people think that our present armed forces are fit for purpose? If not has the Iran conflict exposed our failings and what needs to be done to fix it in a sensible time? To me the HMS Dragon issue seems to show that we aren't really ready to respond to imminent threats but what do you all think please.

To quote a famous war film "God willing, we will hold out Minister".
I don't think we have ever been ready for war but at the moment I feel we are the weakest we have ever been. Weak militarily in numbers and kit. Weak socially where people believe any old tosh fed to them on social media. Weak politically. But not weak in the people that make up our armed forces. I do believe every person in the UK believes in our armed forces. I just hope we can give our armed forces the support they demand.
My great uncle served in WW1 and we lost a relative at Loos. My father served in the Navy in WW2. My uncles in Burma.
Sadly I have never known a period where war was not raging somewhere across the globe.
Perhaps we are destined to destroy ourselves? Peace seems to be a folly only fools can dream of.
Thank you for your service,

[ORAC]

Trump said Iran would be hit hard today - they’ve started hitting the oil fields and refineries instead/as well as the leadership and military….

Videos

https://x.com/sentdefender/status/20...729922685?s=20

Shahran Oil Depot in Tehran, Iran as well as other oil installations in the locality were targeted by U.S. and Israeli strikes today. Large fires can be seen burning at a number of facilities.

Operation Epic Fury is now in its second phase, as joint U.S.-Israeli strikes target the wider Iranian industrial sector.

https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/...012615321?s=20

​​​​​​​

[ORAC]

Reference the discussion as too whether the US SSN should have issued a warning to the `Iranian warship.

Unconfirmed,…

https://x.com/IranIntl_En/status/203...155509107?s=20

​​​​​​​An Iranian sailor who was killed when the warship Dena was struck by the US near Sri Lanka had called his father shortly beforehand, saying American forces had issued two warnings for the crew to abandon the vessel, a source close to the family told Iran International.

The Iranian navy warship's commander refused to allow the crew to abandon Dena despite the imminent threat, the source added.

The sailor’s father said some crew members argued with the commander, and the 32 crew members who survived were mainly sailors who managed to escape on lifeboats, according to the source.

A US submarine torpedoed Dena in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday, about 19 nautical miles from the southern Sri Lankan port of Galle, killing dozens of sailors and significantly expanding Washington’s campaign against Iran’s naval forces.

The sinking of the Dena — described by US War Secretary Pete Hegseth as a “quiet death” — marked the first time since World War II that the United States had torpedoed an enemy warship.

​​​​​​​https://www.iranintl.com/en/202603071125

[ORAC]

Major power struggle/vacuum in progress in Iran amongst all the decapitation strikes.

Truth of the post evinced by the ongoing air strikes in the UAE and elsewhere.

https://x.com/DrEliDavid/status/2030...861562844?s=20

​​​​​​​Official IRGC statement:

“President Pezeshkian made a mistake [saying they won't attack neighboring countries], and our forces demonstrated his mistake. His comments were 5 hours ago, and since then Dubai and Abu Dhabi are being struck. Ignore Pezeshkian's words during the war.”


​​​​​​​

[ORAC]

Video

https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/...477079700?s=20

Aftermath of the Israeli air raid that hit Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport last night, reportedly destroying 16 aircraft.

​​​​​​​Burnt out wrecks and plane parts can be seen scattered around.

​​​​​​​

[ORAC]

……………

https://x.com/sentdefender/status/20...955157600?s=20

​​​​​​​According to the Financial Times, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Kuwait have requested to buy thousands of drones from Ukraine’s TAF Industries.

According to reports, Qatar submitted a request for 2,000 drones while the UAE submitted a request for 5,000 drones. Additionally, Kuwait also showed an interest in buying interceptor drones.

[Professor Plum]

Trump has accused Starmer of seeking to “join wars we’ve already won”

Is anyone on this forum able to offer any evidence that this war has been won by Donald Trump?

In addition-what is the end state? No sign of any internal uprising from within Iran that I can see. Therefore I don’t see a swift conclusion. Certainly not using air power alone.

This is clear Military aviation content as I’m asking what the Military end state is

[Lonewolf_50]

Not a swift conclusion, no.
But here's an interesting side effect;

March 6, 2026, 2:11 PMAmid an expanding regional war, one development—understandably —went nearly unnoticed. After Hezbollah attacked Israel and drew massive retaliation on the country, Lebanon’s parliamentary speaker, Nabih Berri, endorsed a cabinet decision to outlaw Hezbollah’s weapons.

More details at the spoiler.
Why does that matter?
That is one leg of the "Axis of Resistance" that has informed a variety of kinetic actions in the middle east over the past 45 years. If they get even slightly defanged, the Israelis can focus more of their assets on Iran...who currently do not have a coherent integrated air defense system in play.

Spoiler

 

 

This is significant. Hezbollah, of course, is an armed group whose power ultimately rests on violence. But despite this, the group has largely relied on its political assets for cover in resisting pressure to disarm from the Lebanese state and the international community.

With Berri’s latest turn, such cover might weaken, isolating Hezbollah at the worst possible time. This might embolden enemies seeking to dissolve its militia, most notably the Lebanese prime minister and president. Indeed, the Lebanese military has already reportedly begun an unprecedented campaign to arrest Hezbollah members after the government decision to ban its arms. This progress is fragile, but meaningful.

Berri, a lawyer by training, is Lebanon’s longest-serving official. He has been speaker of parliament for 34 years and shows no sign of stopping despite being 88 years old. Although he is the ultimate establishment politician, Berri has a colorful past as a member and later commander of the Amal militia, a militant Shiite group that focused on fighting Israel in addition to empowering Lebanese Shiites.

[albatross]

“Some U.S. officials and politicians, including President George H.W. Bush, strongly condemned Saddam Hussein’s destruction of Kuwaiti oil fields during the 1991 Gulf War, frequently labeling the deliberate environmental devastation as "environmental terrorism" and a war crime.” Quote from Wikipedia.

Originally Posted by ORAC

Trump said Iran would be hit hard today - they’ve started hitting the oil fields and refineries instead/as well as the leadership and military….

Videos

[fdr]

Originally Posted by Professor Plum

Trump has accused Starmer of seeking to “join wars we’ve already won”

Is anyone on this forum able to offer any evidence that this war has been won by Donald “I want a Nobel Peace Price” Trump?

In addition-what is the end state? No sign of any internal uprising from within Iran that I can see. Therefore I don’t see a swift conclusion. Certainly not using air power alone.

This is clear Military aviation content as I’m asking what the Military end state is

Prof, keep up with the play here Sir, somewhere there has to be a tweet that says the Persians have unconditionally surrendered as that is the bar that the US of A has set for "winning".

Winning the peace used to be so much easier before the magic mushrooms kicked in.

Apparently it isn't just our team that is a little confused at present, when the military are contradicting the president in Teheran, it would seem that the silly season is well upon us.

The gulf states wanting to buy drones from Ukraine is a curious change. I would have thought barrage balloons were more appropriate, but sharing the love around is probably a noble and glorious gesture. Are these not the same bunch that stopped short of inconveniencing their Russian cash cows, while being less than fulsome in support of a UN member nation being attacked by an aggressor nation? Perhaps I read the UNGA votes in error... It was very helpful though to suggest that Ukraine attempt to find a peaceful resolution, while taking loot from the aggressor. "Humanitarian aid" doesn't stop ballistic missiles, at least not on planet earth. Maybe its the thought that counts..

"help, I'm drowning!!!"
"care for some dental floss? It might help..."

[ORAC]

Video

https://x.com/nexta_tv/status/2030525330700513348?s=20

​​​​​​​Kuwait City skyscraper ENGULFED in flames after Iranian drone strike

The headquarters of Kuwait’s Public Institution for Social Security is burning — massive inferno lighting up the night sky.

Iranian drones also slammed fuel storage tanks at Kuwait International Airport — a key logistics hub for US military operations in the region.

[ORAC]

In one respect that’s sad - now none left flying.

https://x.com/BabakTaghvaee1/status/...284764084?s=20

​​​​​​​BREAKING: The IDF has just announced that it has destroyed all F-14A Tomcat fighter interceptors of the Iranian Air Force at the 8th Tactical Fighter Base in Isfahan, central Iran.

They have not yet released any video or images, but say they are preparing footage to publish soon.

​​​​​​​According to their claim, no F-14 Tomcats are now left in Iran.

[ORAC]

CNN video report with the reporter swirling the mix of rain and oil on his rooftop post.

https://x.com/fpleitgenCNN/status/20...589762282?s=20

​​​​​​​It is raining oil in Tehran this morning after major airstrikes on oil facilities in the South and West of the Iranian capital. ​​​​​​​

[ORAC]

https://x.com/ColbyBadhwar/status/20...577419387?s=20

Clarifications on the emergency arms sales to Israel:

Only the 12,000 1000lb BLU-110s were a new FMS case.

10,000 x 500lb BLU-111s are an amendment to an existing case, and therefore not announced publicly by State PM or DSCA.

5000 x GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs are via Direct Commercial Sale with Boeing.

​​​​​​​

[jolihokistix]

Originally Posted by ORAC

CNN video report with the reporter swirling the mix of rain and oil on his rooftop post.

Oily rain filling the reservoirs then?

[Bfah]

I know not the right place.

But just a thank you to ORAC for the continual updates/links that many of us don't have the time to scroll/doom on X/FB or other platforms.

[ORAC]

Oily rain filling the reservoirs then?

They're already empty…..
​​​​​​​
https://evrimagaci.org/gpt/iran-face...Z97EugSINQFH_c