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Iran

Old 6th April 2026 | 03:31
  #4921 (permalink)  
fdr
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From: 3rd Rock, #29B
Originally Posted by tdracer
The Iranian treatment of the US hostages 46 years ago was not exactly a model of compassion and kindness - and they were civilians.
Getting their military bombed out of existence on a daily basis is not exactly conducive to good treatment of captured enemy.
TD, you are absolutely correct, however, the political situation today is not that of 1979. The overthrow of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was a revolution, arising for better or worse following the overthrow in 1953 of Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, in operation Ajax, which was a response by Churchill against the announced nationalisation of the Anglo-Persian oil company, which was not received well back in #10. The U.S. joined in with support by the CIA, which didn't make many friends. The Shah's history didn't make for friendly relationships in 1979. Further back, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi took the hot seat in 1941 following the overthrow of his father, Reza Shah, by a joint action of the British and Soviets. Given the love that SAVAK meted out with the support of the West under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, it is not surprising that the hostage crisis followed. That event was beneficial to the revolutionary cause, but had some likelihood of being unscripted, and a reaction by the populace to the change in their situation. The Shah wasn't that much different to other governments that have existed in the region, and that is the problem that the region has; enormous wealth and opulence is on display in an area that has rather strong views on their religions. Makes for an interesting combination.

The current circus act is in an environment that is far removed from 1979, although capping the leaders does add to chaotic response. In the case of the F-15E crew, the government asked the populace to apprehend, alive the crew, which is rather different to ISIS's mode of operation. All that may change with further escalation from those that are in charge of tweeting national policy at 2:00 AM, and certainly the language in todays missive from the fount of knowledge on all things, was rather impolite. It is a change to have a head of state that requires a bleep to his commentary.


Originally Posted by tdracer
I think the more relevant question might be: What is the benefit to the moral of the troops to know the extent that the higher ups would go to implementing the rescue of a downed airman.
I think the more relevant question might be: What is the benefit to the morale of the troops to know the extent that the higher ups would go to implementing the rescue of a downed airman.

"Morals" is the other thing, observable in absence in some tweets of recent times.

Last edited by fdr; 6th April 2026 at 15:14.
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Old 6th April 2026 | 04:13
  #4922 (permalink)  
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From: Yakima
An interesting recap of recent Iranian history and consequences. Frankly, I was amazed to hear the U.S. propose the son of the Shah, Reza Pahlavi, be made the leader of Iran. After the CIA interference in Iran in 1953 to overthrow an elected government to install the Shah why would Iranians want to support the son? My head is spinning...

And thanks for the spelling correction, it was really bugging me.
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Old 6th April 2026 | 04:18
  #4923 (permalink)  
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From: SW WA
Originally Posted by ORAC
So it looks like the additional aircraft flown in weren't more C-130s. Logical if both the previous C-130s got bogged down. C-295W not Dash-8 though.

Ties in with post 4847: Iran

I think this is the field itself.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Is...oASAFQAw%3D%3D

Bruce
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Old 6th April 2026 | 05:40
  #4924 (permalink)  
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From: Peripatetic
Israeli media source, unverified.
Channel 14* claims Hezbollah fired an anti-ship missile and damaged a British warship 112km off the Lebanese coast.
@TomCotterillX reports that UKMTO says that no British vessels have been attacked. Reminder that Hezbollah fields a notable anti-ship cruise missile arsenal. They have access to Iranian Noor long-range ASCMs.

The Noor is a reverse-engineered version of the Chinese C-802. Noor underwent numerous modifications, so its range spans from 30-220km. The improved Qader missile has a range of 300km, 200kg warhead, and a high-precision navigation system.

Hezbollah has a small number of Yakhont ASCMs as well. Russia sent them to Syria and from there some were given to Hezbollah. The export version of the P-800 Oniks has a 300km range, 200-250kg warhead, and contains high manueverability, supersonic sea-skimming abilities, and inertial navigation-based guidance.

Hezbollah also has the Nasr, an Iranian variant of the C-701 or 704, but it has a maximal range of 35km. Lastly, there are unverified reports that they possess Ra'ad subsonic sea-skimming ASCMs, an upgraded version of the Chinese HY-2.

Potential British targets include the HMS Dragon, a Type 45 air-defence destroyer defending RAF Akrotiri, but UKMTO reportedly denied this. RFA Lyme Bay has also been mentioned, but its still docked in Gibraltar. Maybe a French vessel was struck, or perhaps nothing at all¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
*
​​​​​​​We published in the edition | Hezbollah launched a shore-to-sea missile toward a British warship about 70 miles from the Lebanese coast, after mistaking it for an Israeli one.

An assessment in Israel that the ship was damaged.

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Old 6th April 2026 | 05:57
  #4925 (permalink)  
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From: Peripatetic
……………
​​​​​​​CRIPPLING ECONOMIC STRIKE AGAINST IRAN:

Today, Israel struck Iran's petrochemical industry with massive strikes that will not only severely harm the Iranian economy, but also heavily degrade Iran's ability to produce material needed for ballistic missiles and other weapons.
​​​​​​​JUST IN from the NYT: Two senior officials in Iran's oil ministry said that Israel's attack on the largest petrochemical center in Iran caused a complete shutdown of all production in the complex.

The attacks targeted two service facilities called Fajr 1 and Fajr 2, which provided more than 50 petrochemical plants operating in the complex with the basic services needed for their operation, including gas, electricity, and industrial water.

The two officials said that the complete shutdown of the plants is a severe blow whose extent is difficult to assess for the already fragile Iranian economy. According to them, restoring the service facilities and returning the production lines to full operation may take about two years.
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Old 6th April 2026 | 07:12
  #4926 (permalink)  
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From: Biffins Bridge
Can someone please explain why it was necessary to land a couple of C-130s as part of the rescue. What was their purpose other than a rather large distraction to what may have been happening somewhere else.
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Old 6th April 2026 | 07:25
  #4927 (permalink)  
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From: Land of Oz
Originally Posted by B Fraser
Can someone please explain why it was necessary to land a couple of C-130s as part of the rescue. What was their purpose other than a rather large distraction to what may have been happening somewhere else.
The C-130s carried the MH-6s, required to fly from the LG up the mountain to rescue the evader. Two MH-6s required so there would be a spare.
Also with SFs to secure the LG. Probably with more troops than required as they didn't know what opposition they would be up against.
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Old 6th April 2026 | 07:27
  #4928 (permalink)  
 
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From: Northumberland
Originally Posted by B Fraser
Can someone please explain why it was necessary to land a couple of C-130s as part of the rescue. What was their purpose other than a rather large distraction to what may have been happening somewhere else.
My understanding is that the Herks were carrying the 'Little Bird' helicopters which did the pick up of the downed airman.
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Old 6th April 2026 | 07:30
  #4929 (permalink)  
 
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From: Australia
Originally Posted by ORAC
……………
"JUST IN from the NYT: Two senior officials in Iran's oil ministry said that Israel's attack on the largest petrochemical center in Iran caused a complete shutdown of all production in the complex.

The attacks targeted two service facilities called Fajr 1 and Fajr 2, which provided more than 50 petrochemical plants operating in the complex with the basic services needed for their operation, including gas, electricity, and industrial water.

The two officials said that the complete shutdown of the plants is a severe blow whose extent is difficult to assess for the already fragile Iranian economy. According to them, restoring the service facilities and returning the production lines to full operation may take about two years."


This would support the theory that Israel wants a failed state in Iran.
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Old 6th April 2026 | 07:43
  #4930 (permalink)  
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From: Peripatetic
Originally Posted by B Fraser
Can someone please explain why it was necessary to land a couple of C-130s as part of the rescue. What was their purpose other than a rather large distraction to what may have been happening somewhere else.
The main reason was to bring in the MH-6 helicopters which were required to extract the WSO from the mountain top where he had hidden himself.

Too small a site for a larger helicopter such as a CH-47 which would also have been too vulnerable to attack*. So they had 4 armed MH-6s, one for the extraction the others for escort/covering fire.

(* Remember there were a large number of Iranian ground forces in the area and 2 M-60 Blackhawaks had already been damaged by ground fire and an A-10C damaged and later lost when the pilot had to eject near Kuwait).

The other reason is in the term FARP - Forward Arming and Refueling Point. An airborne tanker can refuel larger helicopters with probes, but it can’t rearm them, and the MH-6 is too small to have a probe anyway. Depending on the threat and the firepower needs to suppress it around the extraction point they may have needed to rearm as well as refuel.

Lastly they carried a large number of SF as well as their equipment, both to defend the FARP whilst the MH-6s were assembled and the operation was ongoing and in case they were needed to be inserted to help locate the WSO and set up a defensive perimeter around the extraction site.
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Old 6th April 2026 | 07:49
  #4931 (permalink)  
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From: Over the rainbow
LBC News report that a deal has been struck between Iran and the USA but no details of that deal have been released yet.
The deal could be in-place today with the Strait open. Deal being brokered by Pakistan.
Deal still to be agreed by all parties.
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Old 6th April 2026 | 07:58
  #4932 (permalink)  
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From: Reading, UK
Originally Posted by DaveReidUK
Originally Posted by RAFEngO74to09
The SF C-295 seen low flying in X videos yesterday managed to recover 2 of the MH-6M that would fit - that's why only 2 of 4 had to be destroyed.
Do you have a source for that?

Granted, the blades could be folded, but isn't the rotor mast height too great to fit in the C-295's hold?
All 4 MH-6's now reported as destroyed, presumably no practicable way of recovering them.
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Old 6th April 2026 | 08:14
  #4933 (permalink)  
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From: London
Originally Posted by DaveReidUK
All 4 MH-6's now reported as destroyed, presumably no practicable way of recovering them.
Were they damaged or used knowing they would have to be left & destroyed?

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Old 6th April 2026 | 08:21
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From: Northumberland
Once the C-130's are destroyed, how do you get them out?
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Old 6th April 2026 | 08:33
  #4935 (permalink)  
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From: Biffins Bridge
Originally Posted by BBadanov
The C-130s carried the MH-6s, required to fly from the LG up the mountain to rescue the evader. Two MH-6s required so there would be a spare.
Also with SFs to secure the LG. Probably with more troops than required as they didn't know what opposition they would be up against.
I see, thanks. I won't have to wait for the inevitable film for the answer.
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Old 6th April 2026 | 08:37
  #4936 (permalink)  
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From: London
Originally Posted by SWBKCB
Once the C-130's are destroyed, how do you get them out?
Ahh ok got it
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Old 6th April 2026 | 09:05
  #4937 (permalink)  
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From: Land of Oz
Originally Posted by DaveReidUK
All 4 MH-6's now reported as destroyed, presumably no practicable way of recovering them.
They were helicopters - throwaway items.
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Old 6th April 2026 | 09:12
  #4938 (permalink)  
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From: Royal Berkshire
Originally Posted by bcpr
I think this is the field itself.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Is...oASAFQAw%3D%3D

Bruce
No wonder the nose wheel's got stuck when they were attempting a turn around at one end, looking at the length/width of that strip.
You would have thought that they'd have elected to reverse pitch and backtrack the 130's up the strip in reverse as far as they could in order to take off, once they'd unloaded the Little Birds...?
Unless the whole strip was a lot softer than they expected, and it was more than the nose wheels that got bogged down?
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Old 6th April 2026 | 12:20
  #4939 (permalink)  
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From: Only occasionally above FL50
Originally Posted by bcpr
I think this is the field itself.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Is...oASAFQAw%3D%3D

Bruce
For me this link is leading to a road in the centre of Isfahan town! Unlikely. Is it somehow getting redirected?
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Old 6th April 2026 | 12:30
  #4940 (permalink)  
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From: 03 ACE
Originally Posted by Andrewgr2
For me this link is leading to a road in the centre of Isfahan town! Unlikely. Is it somehow getting redirected?
Nope !!!



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