Iran
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
Those will be the ones shipping importing the Russian drones now being used by Iran.
Video
Israeli forces have begun bombing Iranian Navy ships on the Caspian Sea, targeting at least 5 already.
Video
For the first time since the beginning of the current war, Israel carried out airstrikes on the Iranian Navy assets in the port of Bandar Anzali located on the Caspian Sea coast, in northern Iran.
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From: temporarily unsure ...
Today’s news is full of reports on alleged attack by IAF on Iran’s onshore Pars gas field facilities.
Has this anywhere been confimed beyond doubt? ... or, in the absence of any specifics on damage, might this be an opportune false flag by the IRGC to justify increasing attacks on their rivals’ faciliies around the Gulf?
I ask because - shurely! - Iran’s one critical vulnerability is its absolute economic dependence on petroleum exports, without which it is finished.
The USAF and IDF have hitherto carefully avoided attacking Iran’s petroleum facilities so as not to offer an excuse for cognate reprisals on friendly states - so, if the reports are true, does this not represent a ghastly own-goal by the IDF?
If ever common sense were to prevail - well, perhaps fat chance of that! - the war could have been ended swiftly by the ultimate ultimatum to the IRGC - “all ships in the Gulf of Aden will be subject to inspection by the USN, and to impoundment if carrying cargoes to or from Iran!” ... => Iran, finished!
Illegal? Piracy? Well maybe, but the rules of legality have been most sorely stretched in recent times by all sides ... and such an ultimatum might have saved much blood and treasure ... has that opportunity just been lost?
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From: PPRuNe
Just a reminder that this is the Military Forum, and is for discussion on Military matters.
We are digressing into Political and other discussions, for which there is a thread in JetBlast: Why not attack Iran?
We are digressing into Political and other discussions, for which there is a thread in JetBlast: Why not attack Iran?
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From: Everett, WA
Just a reminder that this is the Military Forum, and is for discussion on Military matters.
We are digressing into Political and other discussions, for which there is a thread in JetBlast: Why not attack Iran?
We are digressing into Political and other discussions, for which there is a thread in JetBlast: Why not attack Iran?
I'll resolve to do better - I'd hope the 'usual suspects' will do likewise.
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From: Yakima
The latest Trump post re Israel's attacks on the South Pars gas fields....
"Israel, out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East, has violently lashed out at a major facility known as South Pars Gas Field in Iran. A relatively small section of the whole has been hit. The United States knew nothing about this particular attack, and the country of Qatar was in no way, shape, or form, involved with it, nor did it have any idea that it was going to happen.
"Unfortunately, Iran did not know this, or any of the pertinent facts pertaining to the South Pars attack, and unjustifiably and unfairly attacked a portion of Qatar’s LNG Gas facility.
"NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field unless Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar - In which instance the United States of America, with or without the help or consent of Israel, will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before.
"I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long-term implications that it will have on the future of Iran, but if Qatar’s LNG is again attacked, I will not hesitate to do so,"
"Unfortunately, Iran did not know this, or any of the pertinent facts pertaining to the South Pars attack, and unjustifiably and unfairly attacked a portion of Qatar’s LNG Gas facility.
"NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field unless Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar - In which instance the United States of America, with or without the help or consent of Israel, will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before.
"I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long-term implications that it will have on the future of Iran, but if Qatar’s LNG is again attacked, I will not hesitate to do so,"
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
The chances the US didn’t know were vanishingly small - Israel missions are supported by the USAF tankers deployed in Israel and the missions would have been detailed in the ATO along with whatever other support missions in their COMAO and the target details. So this is no surprise. The only surprise is that he thought he could lie and get away with it.
Axios: https://archive.is/20260319033314/ht...ael-strike-gas
Axios: https://archive.is/20260319033314/ht...ael-strike-gas
After Tehran strikes, Trump says Israel won't attack Iran gas fields anymore
President Trump said Wednesday that Israel will not conduct further attacks on Iran's main natural gas facility.
Why it matters: Trump's comments that seem to be an effort to de-escalate the situation came hours after he green-lit the Israeli strike on the facility that marked a significant escalation in the war.
Driving the news: The Israeli Air Force struck a natural gas processing facility in southwestern Iran on Wednesday.
The attack on the South Pars gas field was the first time Israel has struck natural gas facilities in Iran, which are key to Iran's economy. Israeli and U.S. officials said the strike was coordinated with and approved by the White House.
Several hours later, the Iranian military conducted two missile strikes on Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City and hit natural gas facilities, QatarEnergy said in a statement. It noted there was "extensive damage," but no immediate reports of casualties.
Behind the scenes: After the first Iranian missile strike, Qatari officials contacted White House envoy Steve Witkoff, CENTCOM commanders and other senior Trump administration officials and demanded to know whether the U.S. had prior knowledge of the Israeli strike, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.
Witkoff conducted numerous calls with Qatari officials in an effort to organize an urgent call between Trump and the emir of Qatar, the source said.
Between the lines: An hour after the second Iranian missile attack on the Qatari gas field, Trump claimed on Truth Social that Israeli forces "violently lashed out" and conducted the strike on the Iranian gas field "out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East."
He claimed "the United States knew nothing about this particular attack" and stressed Qatar "was in no way, shape, or form, involved with it, nor did it have any idea that it was going to happen."
Trump's remarks were inaccurate, U.S. and Israeli officials said.
While Qatar didn't know about the Israeli strike in advance, Trump did, the officials said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump coordinated about the strike and the aim was to try and deter Iran from continuing to disrupt oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz, Israeli officials said…..
President Trump said Wednesday that Israel will not conduct further attacks on Iran's main natural gas facility.
Why it matters: Trump's comments that seem to be an effort to de-escalate the situation came hours after he green-lit the Israeli strike on the facility that marked a significant escalation in the war.
Driving the news: The Israeli Air Force struck a natural gas processing facility in southwestern Iran on Wednesday.
The attack on the South Pars gas field was the first time Israel has struck natural gas facilities in Iran, which are key to Iran's economy. Israeli and U.S. officials said the strike was coordinated with and approved by the White House.
Several hours later, the Iranian military conducted two missile strikes on Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City and hit natural gas facilities, QatarEnergy said in a statement. It noted there was "extensive damage," but no immediate reports of casualties.
Behind the scenes: After the first Iranian missile strike, Qatari officials contacted White House envoy Steve Witkoff, CENTCOM commanders and other senior Trump administration officials and demanded to know whether the U.S. had prior knowledge of the Israeli strike, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.
Witkoff conducted numerous calls with Qatari officials in an effort to organize an urgent call between Trump and the emir of Qatar, the source said.
Between the lines: An hour after the second Iranian missile attack on the Qatari gas field, Trump claimed on Truth Social that Israeli forces "violently lashed out" and conducted the strike on the Iranian gas field "out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East."
He claimed "the United States knew nothing about this particular attack" and stressed Qatar "was in no way, shape, or form, involved with it, nor did it have any idea that it was going to happen."
Trump's remarks were inaccurate, U.S. and Israeli officials said.
While Qatar didn't know about the Israeli strike in advance, Trump did, the officials said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump coordinated about the strike and the aim was to try and deter Iran from continuing to disrupt oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz, Israeli officials said…..
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From: Charlie Mike
The chances the US didn’t know were vanishingly small - Israel missions are supported by the USAF tankers deployed in Israel and the missions would have been detailed in the ATO along with whatever other support missions in their COMAO and the target details. So this is no surprise. The only surprise is that he thought he could lie and get away with it.
So, it was an attempt to deter Iran from threatening the Strait? Unless there is more to it, seems like a counterintuitive move to me. Iran's only lever is the economic pain being brought on the West, something they will not give up and the US has just provoked them into using more of that lever.
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port of Yanbu—the kingdom’s sole crude export hub amid the Strait of Hormuz closure—was struck in an aerial attack on March 19. An industry source reports the strike had minimal impact on operations; details on specific infrastructure damage remain unclear.
NASA FIRMS now confirms an active fire at the Yanbu oil refinery on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast, following Iranian claims of a missile strike on the facility.
Iran has hit both coasts of Saudi Arabia and a neighboring Gulf state's crown energy asset in a single day.
Yanbu is one of Saudi Arabia's primary export terminals for refined products destined for Europe and Asia via the Red Sea, outside the Strait of Hormuz entirely.
Iran has hit both coasts of Saudi Arabia and a neighboring Gulf state's crown energy asset in a single day.
Yanbu is one of Saudi Arabia's primary export terminals for refined products destined for Europe and Asia via the Red Sea, outside the Strait of Hormuz entirely.
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From: uk
Glass half full outcome - naive optimism ??
Iran gets fed up with being decimated daily ( for CJ 10% per day = 100% in 10 days ) and sees only a bleak future unless they move to more democracy.
the remaining Mullahs don’t want to be next ( are they ALL suicide believers ? ) and decide to negotiate on more reasonable terms allowing America to withdraw without losing face.
Can they keep up their military opposition for much longer ?
The strait reopens and the World returns to some sort of normality
( mods - apologies if this is more political than military but the 2 overlap )
All the comment focuses on America ( Trump ) being in a bad position but just imagine if you were Iranian !
Iran gets fed up with being decimated daily ( for CJ 10% per day = 100% in 10 days ) and sees only a bleak future unless they move to more democracy.
the remaining Mullahs don’t want to be next ( are they ALL suicide believers ? ) and decide to negotiate on more reasonable terms allowing America to withdraw without losing face.
Can they keep up their military opposition for much longer ?
The strait reopens and the World returns to some sort of normality
( mods - apologies if this is more political than military but the 2 overlap )
All the comment focuses on America ( Trump ) being in a bad position but just imagine if you were Iranian !
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From: Over the rainbow
Iran wins by survival. It's survived previous wars and it will survive this one. Look what happened to Afghanistan. The only way Iran will become democratic is either an internal uprising supported by the military or an all out allied invasion.
Oil prices soar. Oil runs out. Trump's political standing diminishes. The clock is ticking.
Who has time on their side?
Oil prices soar. Oil runs out. Trump's political standing diminishes. The clock is ticking.
Who has time on their side?
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From: Texas
Full spectrum warfare: cyber domain.
There are no front lines in 21st century warfare.
There is an interesting article floating about from General Wesley Clark, and he did indeed make a comparison between Operation Allied Force and the current Operation Epic Fury and the attempt to use air power as a decisive force. You can find it if you are interested, but I don't think it fits here. Maybe in the other thread.
For Crab:
Anyone who has served in the CENTCOM AOR understands this. Tlthere was quite a bit of saber rattling in the late 00's as regards Iran and their supporting various Shia militias in Iraq who fought with American troops there, but the decision to not expand the war was taken for very practical reasons.
Originally Posted by NBC News
An Iran-linked hacker group has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack of a medical tech company, in what appears to be the first significant instance of Iran hacking an American company since the start of war between the countries. The company, Stryker, produces a range of medical equipment and technology, and is headquartered in Michigan.
Historically, Iran has conducted some of the most infamous “wiper” cyberattacks on national enemies, aiming to simply erase all data on a computer’s networks. Victims include Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s national oil company, in 2012, and the Sands Casino in 2014. Since the war started, some established hacker groups sympathetic to Iranian leadership have claimed minor attacks, but most have been relegated to briefly altering the appearance of a website and none have appeared to have had major impact. Some tech and cybersecurity companies, including Google, and the email cybersecurity company Proofpoint, have told NBC News that they have largely seen Iran’s hackers conducting espionage related to the war.
But that appears to have changed Wednesday, with what appears to have been a different type of attack that also deleted information from devices. One Stryker employee, who requested to not be identified because they are not authorized to speak for the company, said that employee’s work issued phones stopped working, dragging work and communications with colleagues to a standstill.
Historically, Iran has conducted some of the most infamous “wiper” cyberattacks on national enemies, aiming to simply erase all data on a computer’s networks. Victims include Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s national oil company, in 2012, and the Sands Casino in 2014. Since the war started, some established hacker groups sympathetic to Iranian leadership have claimed minor attacks, but most have been relegated to briefly altering the appearance of a website and none have appeared to have had major impact. Some tech and cybersecurity companies, including Google, and the email cybersecurity company Proofpoint, have told NBC News that they have largely seen Iran’s hackers conducting espionage related to the war.
But that appears to have changed Wednesday, with what appears to have been a different type of attack that also deleted information from devices. One Stryker employee, who requested to not be identified because they are not authorized to speak for the company, said that employee’s work issued phones stopped working, dragging work and communications with colleagues to a standstill.
There is an interesting article floating about from General Wesley Clark, and he did indeed make a comparison between Operation Allied Force and the current Operation Epic Fury and the attempt to use air power as a decisive force. You can find it if you are interested, but I don't think it fits here. Maybe in the other thread.
For Crab:
Perhaps there are reasons why no US President has gone to war with Iran in the past - if you can't bomb them into submission, what next? It's a vast country with unfriendly geography that would be another Afghanistan if ground troops were deployed.
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
The Greek Patriot Air Defence System Missile Unit scored it's first "kill".
The Greek Patriot system deployed in Saudi Arabia shot down an Iranian ballistic missile aim at a nearby oil refinery.
The system is deployed west of the city of Madinah in order to protect the SAMREF oil refinery which is owned by ARAMCO and Exxonmobil.
The Greek Patriot Air Defence System Missile Unit scored it's first "kill".
The Greek Patriot system deployed in Saudi Arabia shot down an Iranian ballistic missile aim at a nearby oil refinery.
The system is deployed west of the city of Madinah in order to protect the SAMREF oil refinery which is owned by ARAMCO and Exxonmobil.
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From: Over the rainbow
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port of Yanbu—the kingdom’s sole crude export hub amid the Strait of Hormuz closure—was struck in an aerial attack on March 19. An industry source reports the strike had minimal impact on operations; details on specific infrastructure damage remain unclear.
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From: Texas
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From: Out and about
Iran wins by survival. It's survived previous wars and it will survive this one. Look what happened to Afghanistan. The only way Iran will become democratic is either an internal uprising supported by the military or an all out allied invasion.
Oil prices soar. Oil runs out. Trump's political standing diminishes. The clock is ticking.
Who has time on their side?
Oil prices soar. Oil runs out. Trump's political standing diminishes. The clock is ticking.
Who has time on their side?
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From: EGDC
Maybe an all out invasion is the way to go. US,IDF and possibly Gulf Arab states. After the regime is removed a new Iranian military could be created. Regime loyalists could be hunted out. The Crown Prince could be the new Shah, either that or a democratic system with possibly the new Shah being just a figurehead. This would be a great gift to the Iranian people by removing the wicked regime from power. The only nation state threat in the region would be gone once and for all, replaced by a new partner nation and friend.
Iran is predominantly Shia, along with Iraq, Bahrain and Azerbaijan - the rest are mainly Sunni.
If you turn into that sort of wide ranging conflict, they might decide that any ME country that isn't Sunni should be removed from the game and that might just include Israel.
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
Maybe an all out invasion is the way to go.
Iran-Iraq War: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Iraq_War
"The Iran–Iraq War began with the Iraqi invasion of Iran in September 1980. After eight years of conflict, both countries accepted a ceasefire deal brokered by the United Nations, which became effective in August 1988. The war caused around 500,000 deaths (excluding numbers from the related Anfal campaign), making it the deadliest conventional war ever fought between regular armies of developing countries."....
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From: Texas
Did you serve in the G.W. Bush administration at some point?
A few points to ponder:
1. I don't think you appreciate the underwhelming capability of the various Gulf States' military organizations.
2. The IDF is kind of busy in Lebanon at the moment.
(Others have provided other reasons)
All in all: no.
The use of air power has been chosen since it is believed that it will force a decision on Iran when the pain gets high enough.
That belief is being tested.
A few points to ponder:
1. I don't think you appreciate the underwhelming capability of the various Gulf States' military organizations.
2. The IDF is kind of busy in Lebanon at the moment.
(Others have provided other reasons)
All in all: no.
The use of air power has been chosen since it is believed that it will force a decision on Iran when the pain gets high enough.
That belief is being tested.
