Iran
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From: Over the rainbow
I can visualise Putin rubbing his hands calculating how many assets are being tied up and how many munitions are being expended on Iran and not on Russian forces in Ukraine.
This war will get messy very quickly and I predict when that happens American forces will go home causing a vacuum to be filled by terrorism. The alternative are boots on the ground, Trumps very own Vietnam.
Libya, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan all good role models for Iran.
Doesn't bode well for the future.
This war will get messy very quickly and I predict when that happens American forces will go home causing a vacuum to be filled by terrorism. The alternative are boots on the ground, Trumps very own Vietnam.
Libya, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan all good role models for Iran.
Doesn't bode well for the future.
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From: Peripatetic
Previous reports of Iranian drones hitting desalination plants, so this may be a response/warning. Seems to be a tit-for-tat escalation which will harm both sides*
*
The Israeli portal Ynet, citing its sources, reports that the UAE Air Force attacked an Iranian desalination plant.
The publication emphasizes that Israel views this strike more as a signal to Tehran.
It is assumed that the UAE may only join a broader and more open campaign in the event of further escalation of Iranian attacks on Emirati territory.
No official information has been released by either side so far.
The publication emphasizes that Israel views this strike more as a signal to Tehran.
It is assumed that the UAE may only join a broader and more open campaign in the event of further escalation of Iranian attacks on Emirati territory.
No official information has been released by either side so far.
It has now been determined that the water desalination plant on Qeshm Island, southern Iran, was targeted by the U.S. Army using a PrSM tactical short-range ballistic missile launched by means of ATACMS from Bahrain.
In response, the Iranian Army Ground Forces targeted the water desalination plant in Bahrain, and as a result, people in Bahrain are now suffering from a lack of water, same thing that people in south of Iran have been suffering from yesterday.
In response, the Iranian Army Ground Forces targeted the water desalination plant in Bahrain, and as a result, people in Bahrain are now suffering from a lack of water, same thing that people in south of Iran have been suffering from yesterday.
Grok: Both claims are supported by official statements and major outlets like AP, Al Jazeera, Reuters.
Iran: US strike (details unconfirmed by US) damaged Qeshm Island desalination plant Sat, cutting water to ~30 villages per FM Araghchi; local officials say supply now stable.
Bahrain: Iranian drone hit their plant Sun morning, material damage + 3 injured per Interior Ministry; no outage, supplies online.
Iran: US strike (details unconfirmed by US) damaged Qeshm Island desalination plant Sat, cutting water to ~30 villages per FM Araghchi; local officials say supply now stable.
Bahrain: Iranian drone hit their plant Sun morning, material damage + 3 injured per Interior Ministry; no outage, supplies online.
Last edited by ORAC; 8th March 2026 at 12:18.
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From: Peripatetic
MOLT 11-13, a flight of 3 x B1s, RTB from a mission over Iraq, diverted to Ramstein this morning due to fog at Fairford.
Not sure if that made the German government happy.....
Apparently an engines running refuel before returning to Fairford.
Not sure if that made the German government happy.....
Apparently an engines running refuel before returning to Fairford.
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From: London
I was under the impression that these were another 3 B1s inbound to Fairford from the US. I haven't seen anything about B1s departing on missions.
(Unless they routed via Iran en route, which is unlikely for B1s)
Edited to add: Just double checked - defo another 3 from the US
(Unless they routed via Iran en route, which is unlikely for B1s)
Edited to add: Just double checked - defo another 3 from the US
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From: Peripatetic
Follow up to post 3496 - Iran
Includes a video
Video TV report:
Includes a video
BREAKING: What Israel has done to Tehran, the capital city of Iran, and its people amounts to an environmental catastrophe.
By targeting major oil resources used by the population, the strikes have triggered widespread fires and pollution. Reports indicate that water in many areas of Tehran has become acidic, while streets, houses, and buildings are covered with drainage water mixed with oil.
The scale of the damage could result in an environmental disaster for the city that may take decades to recover from.
By targeting major oil resources used by the population, the strikes have triggered widespread fires and pollution. Reports indicate that water in many areas of Tehran has become acidic, while streets, houses, and buildings are covered with drainage water mixed with oil.
The scale of the damage could result in an environmental disaster for the city that may take decades to recover from.
Video TV report:
Iranian TV correspondent reports live from bombed oil depots in Tehran with massive flames raging behind him.
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From: UK
I can visualise Putin rubbing his hands calculating how many assets are being tied up and how many munitions are being expended on Iran and not on Russian forces in Ukraine.
This war will get messy very quickly and I predict when that happens American forces will go home causing a vacuum to be filled by terrorism. The alternative are boots on the ground, Trumps very own Vietnam.
Libya, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan all good role models for Iran.
Doesn't bode well for the future.
This war will get messy very quickly and I predict when that happens American forces will go home causing a vacuum to be filled by terrorism. The alternative are boots on the ground, Trumps very own Vietnam.
Libya, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan all good role models for Iran.
Doesn't bode well for the future.
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From: Peripatetic
Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) video.
- Should the US Navy Start Targeting & Seizing Iranian Tankers Sea Power vs Seapower
- How did the US Torpedo Global Shipping?
- Convoying in the Past
- Current US Naval Situation
- Potential Strategy for the US
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From: temporarily unsure ...
Escalation, escalation ...,.......the incoming reports of attacks on water infrastructure are very grim news for the 'good guys' in this conflict.
I am hopeful - but very far from confident - that the alleged US attack on Qeshm desalination plant might just be a 'false flag' by an increasingly disrupted IRGC seeking to justify attacks on our Gulf allies' absolutely key vulnerability .... water supplies!
.... flashback - in WW II, the geopolitical landscape was suddenly changed when the Japanese air force ensured the Fall of Singapore by taking out the reservoirs ...
I am hopeful - but very far from confident - that the alleged US attack on Qeshm desalination plant might just be a 'false flag' by an increasingly disrupted IRGC seeking to justify attacks on our Gulf allies' absolutely key vulnerability .... water supplies!
.... flashback - in WW II, the geopolitical landscape was suddenly changed when the Japanese air force ensured the Fall of Singapore by taking out the reservoirs ...
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From: UK
An article on the BBC website states that in Tehran, ‘The internet is cut off, and ordinary citizens who do not have VPNs cannot connect to the global internet. Some people also say that buying a VPN has become very expensive.’ Which beggars my (ill-informed) question - from where are these VPNs purchased and who has control over their pricing? In this day and age social media is a vital tool in the spreading of messaging and propaganda, compare with leafleting (sp?) in conflicts past. If the Donald really wants the Iranian populace to ‘rise up’ he would be well served by increasing the possibility of spreading the message.
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From: troposphere
If 'the internet' is cutoff a VPN won't help you. Internet access is controlled by telcos, they can disconnect their
networks at will. In this case, on the orders of the government or IRGC. You access a VPN by downloading
the relevant app and paying for the subscription. VPN subscriptions are expensive anywhere, not just in Iran.
networks at will. In this case, on the orders of the government or IRGC. You access a VPN by downloading
the relevant app and paying for the subscription. VPN subscriptions are expensive anywhere, not just in Iran.
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From: Peripatetic
Videos
Footage of the moment leaking petroleum products from the bombed Shahran oil depot exploded in the storm drains along Tehran’s Shahran Boulevard.
Diesel fuel leaked from the Shahran oil depot in northwestern Tehran and flowed into a ditch, igniting a fire on Kohsar Boulevard in the Shahrān area. The blaze is spreading rapidly in all directions.
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From: Peripatetic
Flaunting their air supremacy….
A US Navy MQ-4C Triton UAV conducted a reconnaissance mission over the Iranian city of Bushehr this afternoon, with its transponder on and broadcasting.
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From: Peripatetic
dead_pan said: I was under the impression that these were another 3 B1s inbound to Fairford from the US. I haven't seen anything about B1s departing on missions.
(Unless they routed via Iran en route, which is unlikely for B1s)
Edited to add: Just double checked - defo another 3 from the US
(Unless they routed via Iran en route, which is unlikely for B1s)
Edited to add: Just double checked - defo another 3 from the US
More "Bones" to Europe after Iran strikes #FreeIran
--- Operation EPIC FURY ---
Once again, a flight of 4 B-1B "Lancer" bombers from the US crossed the Atlantic last night, with one aircraft 86-0140 "MOLT14" arriving into RAF Fairford. The remaining 3 jets flew to Iran to bomb targets, then flew back through Europe towards RAF Fairford earlier today.
Unfortunately, due to very poor visibility at the base, the 3 bombers elected to divert to Ramstein Airbase (ETAR) in Germany for a temporary rest stop & refuel, and should head to RAF Fairford later today to join the other bombers already there.
The full list of B-1Bs now at / expected to arrive at RAF Fairford are:
B-1B 86-0120 #AE6BFA "Whiskey Pete" (EL)
B-1B 86-0108 #AE6BF0 "Aliens with Attitude" (EL)
B-1B 86-0139 #AE6C0A "Drifter" (EL)
B-1B 86-0121 #AE6BFB "Symphony of Destruction" (EL)
B-1B 85-0064 #AE6BD3 "Eliminator" (DY)
B-1B 85-0088 #AE6BE1 (DY)
B-1B 86-0107 #AE6BEF "Dragon Slayer" (WA)
B-1B 86-0140 #AE6C0B "Last Lancer" (DY)
--- Operation EPIC FURY ---
Once again, a flight of 4 B-1B "Lancer" bombers from the US crossed the Atlantic last night, with one aircraft 86-0140 "MOLT14" arriving into RAF Fairford. The remaining 3 jets flew to Iran to bomb targets, then flew back through Europe towards RAF Fairford earlier today.
Unfortunately, due to very poor visibility at the base, the 3 bombers elected to divert to Ramstein Airbase (ETAR) in Germany for a temporary rest stop & refuel, and should head to RAF Fairford later today to join the other bombers already there.
The full list of B-1Bs now at / expected to arrive at RAF Fairford are:
B-1B 86-0120 #AE6BFA "Whiskey Pete" (EL)
B-1B 86-0108 #AE6BF0 "Aliens with Attitude" (EL)
B-1B 86-0139 #AE6C0A "Drifter" (EL)
B-1B 86-0121 #AE6BFB "Symphony of Destruction" (EL)
B-1B 85-0064 #AE6BD3 "Eliminator" (DY)
B-1B 85-0088 #AE6BE1 (DY)
B-1B 86-0107 #AE6BEF "Dragon Slayer" (WA)
B-1B 86-0140 #AE6C0B "Last Lancer" (DY)
Audio
https://x.com/thenewarea51/status/20...889222818?s=20
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From: Peripatetic
…………..
Defense Minister Israel Katz says the new military secretary to Iran's supreme leader was killed in a strike.
During an assessment with the IDF's top brass, Katz was updated that "Abu-al-Qasem Baba’iyan, the new head of the military bureau of the supreme leader, who had been appointed only a few days ago after his predecessor was eliminated in the opening strike, was also eliminated," his office says.
During an assessment with the IDF's top brass, Katz was updated that "Abu-al-Qasem Baba’iyan, the new head of the military bureau of the supreme leader, who had been appointed only a few days ago after his predecessor was eliminated in the opening strike, was also eliminated," his office says.
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From: Peripatetic
CrowsNest AEW Merlin self-deploying to Akrotiri, and looks like at least one Chinook on the way as well.
It would appear MERLIN CROWSNEST will be flying to Akrotiri autonomously...? MERLINs are no strangers to long in-flight moves in successive leaps, there's precedents.
RAF Chinook making its way over France now. Am assuming it’s hopping to Akrotiri. Curious what options the Chinook can open up to British forces in the region, if anyone knows?
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From: Lincs
An article on the BBC website states that in Tehran, ‘The internet is cut off, and ordinary citizens who do not have VPNs cannot connect to the global internet. Some people also say that buying a VPN has become very expensive.’ Which beggars my (ill-informed) question - from where are these VPNs purchased and who has control over their pricing? In this day and age social media is a vital tool in the spreading of messaging and propaganda, compare with leafleting (sp?) in conflicts past. If the Donald really wants the Iranian populace to ‘rise up’ he would be well served by increasing the possibility of spreading the message.
https://priyom.org/number-stations/other/v32
Number Station video.
Iranian jammer on frequency used by Farsi Number Station.
The Iranians are currently playing Whack-a-Mole trying to jam the number station frequencies.
For those interested. Number Station references.
https://priyom.org/number-stations
https://priyom.org/number-stations/station-schedule
RAF and ex-RAF/GCHQ who spied for the Russians were controlled by their handlers using shortwave number stations. Chief Technician Douglas Britten and Sergeant Geoffrey Prime. Prime later went onto work at GCHQ. When Prime's' house was searched they found number station recordings on a tape recorder, frequency schedule list and booklets of one-time pads used to decode the transmissions.
Image of spying kit used by Prime.
https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/ne...hoto/646291234
Number Station log copied by Britten.
https://scienceblogs.de/klausis-kryp...uglas-britten/
https://www.walkingthebattlefields.c...-spy-1968.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Prime
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From: Peripatetic
Justification for the US strike on the Kharg island desalination plant, presumably originally from a military source, is that was a justifiable military target.
Axios is also reporting that the US is considering seizing the island.*
Kharg island wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kharg_Island
https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/kharg-island-03/
* https://archive.is/20260308042325/ht...forces-nuclear
Axios is also reporting that the US is considering seizing the island.*
Let me set the current "social media lie", this time, desalination on Qeshm, straight.
Qeshm has a large IRGC Garrison including a huge drone base that plays a big role in blocking the Straight of Hormuz.
US is making the Island untenable for IRGC.
Qeshm has a large IRGC Garrison including a huge drone base that plays a big role in blocking the Straight of Hormuz.
US is making the Island untenable for IRGC.
https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/kharg-island-03/
* https://archive.is/20260308042325/ht...forces-nuclear
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From: 3rd Rock, #29B
I'm wondering if there was a glitch in the AI that came up with current plan to achieve unconditional surrender of a sovereign state to another which has no common border, or legal standing other than their ability to project mayhem outside of their territory. The sooner that Iran is rid of the last 47 years of oppressive management the better, yet, not much that is happening today would be a great surprise to the forces in the gulf, other than the involvement of civil infrastructure in Irans neighbours, which is not a strategy to win friends and influence people. UAE asking for drones and support from Ukraine is an indication as to how curious consequences have arisen from the current "plan" to achieve "unconditional surrender".
Damage to water supplies which were "strained" already (and not for the floaty stuff) is an effective way of adding 30-50 years of asymmetric warfare to the future cost of security, everywhere. Borders are not boundaries to the activities underway at present and this is early days in the never ending saga of gulf politics and the wests interaction with them. Without boots on the ground, not sure that the aim of this tiff are going to be achieved, although, as the aim seems to be evolving in real time, or being backfilled as necessary, then it raises a question as to what boots, when, where, why, for how long, and what does this "unconditional surrender" mean in practical terms for the Dept of Whatever it is today, to frag for the boots to thus achieve. Presumably, there is a bullet point item related to disassembly of the nuclear weapons programs, which is wonderful, but at the same time, can we also ensure that Vlad the Impaler is not sending by SFx, FEDEX, UPS or USPS some questionable nukes out of his own stockpile? Might need to ensure that Air Koryu and Aeroflot also aren't humping stuff down to Teheran as well.
It still seems that our leaders are giving clear reasons to all other observer states that there is a need in their arsenal for a few dozen nukes that can be had for a fairly discounted price from Vlad while he is busy trying to send Russia into the 14th Century, yet lacking the funds in their new improved economy to do so. The probability that Vlad's minions used the tritium funds to buy dachas and Beemers is fairly high, which adds some spice to the question as to whether any of Vlad's stockpile will ring any bells.
To remain on the aviation theme, (stuff going flying etc) at least Amazon has some specials on the Orville Redenbacher's popcorn, in various marks, and that adds a right to the wrongs going on at present, and is perilously close to being Eddie's top hat escadrille's name, probably closer than the current op plan/tweet is working out to the grand design moments before the pin was pulled on this claymore. It might be worthwhile to add a subheading to future plans that also says, "this side to enemy", as "results may vary".
So much winning, and, yes, we can indeed get tired of winning.
Damage to water supplies which were "strained" already (and not for the floaty stuff) is an effective way of adding 30-50 years of asymmetric warfare to the future cost of security, everywhere. Borders are not boundaries to the activities underway at present and this is early days in the never ending saga of gulf politics and the wests interaction with them. Without boots on the ground, not sure that the aim of this tiff are going to be achieved, although, as the aim seems to be evolving in real time, or being backfilled as necessary, then it raises a question as to what boots, when, where, why, for how long, and what does this "unconditional surrender" mean in practical terms for the Dept of Whatever it is today, to frag for the boots to thus achieve. Presumably, there is a bullet point item related to disassembly of the nuclear weapons programs, which is wonderful, but at the same time, can we also ensure that Vlad the Impaler is not sending by SFx, FEDEX, UPS or USPS some questionable nukes out of his own stockpile? Might need to ensure that Air Koryu and Aeroflot also aren't humping stuff down to Teheran as well.
It still seems that our leaders are giving clear reasons to all other observer states that there is a need in their arsenal for a few dozen nukes that can be had for a fairly discounted price from Vlad while he is busy trying to send Russia into the 14th Century, yet lacking the funds in their new improved economy to do so. The probability that Vlad's minions used the tritium funds to buy dachas and Beemers is fairly high, which adds some spice to the question as to whether any of Vlad's stockpile will ring any bells.
To remain on the aviation theme, (stuff going flying etc) at least Amazon has some specials on the Orville Redenbacher's popcorn, in various marks, and that adds a right to the wrongs going on at present, and is perilously close to being Eddie's top hat escadrille's name, probably closer than the current op plan/tweet is working out to the grand design moments before the pin was pulled on this claymore. It might be worthwhile to add a subheading to future plans that also says, "this side to enemy", as "results may vary".
So much winning, and, yes, we can indeed get tired of winning.
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From: Peripatetic
The German frigate FGS Nordrhein-Westfalen arrived at the port of Limassol on Sunday, joining a growing fleet of international military vessels which have deployed to Cyprus amid an ongoing conflict in the Middle East - Cyprus Mail
