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Hot 'n' High 28th March 2026 08:13


Originally Posted by fdr (Post 12060199)
Thats a nuclear armed nation making a pretty clear position. Will China do the same? India is nominally self sufficient for food, ..........

This link here suggests that this move by India is a bit more considered than the link quoted by ORAC suggests - tho that link from ORAC was v useful to surface knowledge about what other countries are doing so pse keep such posts coming! :ok:

Clearly, quite a bit of Indian-Iranian discussion has been had. Interesting all the same, especially if you ask could the RN do the same for British ships?

Oh, I forgot - virtually no RN and even less of a British Merchant fleet these days! :uhoh:

henra 28th March 2026 08:13


Originally Posted by RatherBeFlying (Post 12060252)
Xi may be happy lending out tanker cars to increase deliveries along with providing electronics for missiles and drones.

Won't work. China Railway system has a different gauge to Russia's. China has the same as continental Europe.

golder 28th March 2026 09:18


Originally Posted by ORAC
India to Iran: No permission needed — Navy deploys 7 warships to protect vital oil routes

Just a poorly researched twitter
Both China and India and some others, are using the strait with Iranian approval
They missed this bit
"After securing permission from Iran for the ships to transit the Strait, the warships are providing guidance on the route. "

ORAC 28th March 2026 09:30

Need confirmation from other sources. can't see anything in the photo myself.

Photos:

​​​​​​​BREAKING: According to this satellite image taken by Landsat 8/9, it appears that, in addition to the KC-135R Stratotankers of the U.S. Air Force, at least one or two E-3G Sentry AWACS has also been destroyed in the ballistic missile strike carried out by the IRGC Aerospace Force at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, on March 27, 2026.

In fact, it appears that, the primary target of the IRGCASF was the E-3Gs of the USAF parked there, not the KC-135Rs. However, they also managed to destroy several KC-135Rs.

What makes this even more personal for me is that I had previously met and photographed those E-3G Sentry AWACS aircraft weeks before start of this war for my book on Op. Epic Fury.


ORAC 28th March 2026 09:33


ust a poorly researched twitter. Both China and India and some others, are using the strait with Iranian approval
Tehran and the IRGC don't seem to be in agreement. I think the IRGC still want their $2M per ship...


​​​​​​​Iran turned back two Chinese container ships from the Strait of Hormuz in an “unusual move,” the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

The vessels, operated by state-owned COSCO, reversed course near Larak Island close to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, according to ship tracking data and crew accounts cited in the report.....


​​​​​​​

ORAC 28th March 2026 09:39

Looks like the A-10s are proving useful and more being deployed.

Doubt it means the USAF will reconsider their retirement....


USAF United States Air Force - Coronet East

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 1x
#AE04DB 57-1437 - GOLD 50 + TABOR 91-96 flt 6x A-10A Thunderbolt IIs Six Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 190th Fighter Squadron arrived at Pease Air National Guard Base this evening, supported by GOLD 50.

Their next stop has been rumoured to be either Lajes or RAF Lakenheath. Their arrival at Pease means we could be looking at A-10s to Lakenheath this weekend.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....50693c8b49.png
​​​​​​​

ORAC 28th March 2026 09:42

Video & photos

BREAKING: Multiple residential buildings in the Nobonyad neighborhood of Tehran were bombed by the Israeli Air Force early this morning.

These buildings were part of a residential complex housing personnel of the Iranian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics and their families.

Several buildings have been completely flattened, with tens of people—and possibly more—believed to be trapped under the rubble.


​​​​​​​

ORAC 28th March 2026 09:58

So this is assed to be just the move of SF forces. Presumably the planned move of the 82nd will follow.


​​​​​​​Update on this movement into the Middle East in support of Operation EPIC FURY.

At least 63 flights completed with 11 more in progress.

Origins:
15-Hunter Army Air Field/Fort Stewart, GA (KSVN)
12-Pope Army Air Field/Fort Bragg, NC (KPOB)
10-Unknown (????)
8-Cannon AFB, NM (KCVS)
7-JB Lewis-McChord, WA (KTCM)
5-Naval Air Station Oceana, VA (KNTU)
4-Hurlburt Field, FL (KHRT) 4-Campbell Army Airfield/Fort Campbell, KY (KHOP)
4-Gray Army Airfield/JB Lewis-McChord, WA (KGRF)
2-Harrisburg, PA (KMDT)
1-MacDill AFB, FL (MCF)
1-JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ (KWRI)
1-Ramstein AB, Germany (ETAR)


Destinations:
23-Ovda Air Base, Israel (LLOV)
19-King Abdullah Air Base, Jordan (OJKF)
10-King Hussein Int'l Airport, Jordan (OJAQ)
5-Unknown (????)
5-Elsefina Air Base, Greece
1-Ramstein Air Base, Germany (ETAR)
1-Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Jordan (OJMS)


Key Observation:

The common thread among these origins is the presence of special operations units at each base. KSVN-160th SOAR, 75th Rangers KPOB-Army Special Ops Command, Delta Force, 3rd Special Forces Group KCVS-27th Special Ops Wing KTCM/KGRF-160th SOAR, 1st Special Forces Group, 75th Rangers KNTU-Naval Special Warfare Group 2, DEVGRU (SEAL Team 6) KHRT-Air Force Special Ops Command, 1st Special Ops Wing, 24th Special Ops Wing, 492nd Special Ops Wing, 720th Special Tactics Group KHOP-5th Special Forces Group, 160th SOAR.

These flights appear to be linked to the same mission based on their characteristics and communications.


Assessment:

Based on the above, I now assess this movement to be related to the movement of special operations assets and does not appear to be related to the announced movement of the 82nd Airborne.


ORAC 28th March 2026 10:25


​​​​​​​An eyewitness in Bushehr, a major port city by Persian Gulf, has reported that four hours ago, for a duration of one hour, heavy airstrikes were carried out on Bushehr, and a vast area from Solh Abad Dock to the entire Customs Administration Office was severely targeted.

The eyewitness said that in the past, airstrikes had lasted a maximum of ten minutes. He added that the Solh Abad Dock had previously been used by the IRGC's speedboats.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....625b7a1138.png
​​​​​​​

larssnowpharter 28th March 2026 11:12

Two significant reports in the MSM:

1. Houthi rocket attack on Israel. This is the first time this band has entered the conflict and marks a significant expansion of the war especially given the Saudi antipathy to them.

2. Israeli attacks on civilians nuclear plants in Iran. Israel stating that said attacks coordinated with USA. Possible Iranian retaliation targeting GCC power facilities?

It's escalating and getting more complex.

Timmy Tomkins 28th March 2026 11:25

Up next, Houthis block the Red Sea....?

Biggus 28th March 2026 11:54

I'm sure Iran would be happy for the Houthis to ramp up attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

It would stretch the USN into a two area deployment, put further pressure on the World economy and increase international calls for the conflict to stop.

On the down side I suppose it might galvanize European navies into deploying ships into the Red Sea for "defensive purposes" to protect shipping. Who knows, Hermer might even declare such an act to be "legal"?

None of this is exactly rocket science.

golder 28th March 2026 12:36


Originally Posted by ORAC (Post 12060317)
Tehran and the IRGC don't seem to be in agreement. I think the IRGC still want their $2M per ship...

They are still best buds, This was news 4 hours ago

Iran Clears Two More India-Bound LPG Tankers For Strait Of Hormuz Transit; Carrying 90K Tonnes Of Precious Gas | OdishaBytes

Iran Clears Two More India-Bound LPG Tankers For Strait Of Hormuz Transit; Carrying 90K Tonnes Of Precious Gas


DogTailRed2 28th March 2026 12:40

LBC news reporting American military are concerned that Tomahawk missiles stocks are being depleted.
Tomahawks being one of the main defences for the navy.

DogTailRed2 28th March 2026 12:43


Originally Posted by larssnowpharter (Post 12060376)

"attacks on civilians nuclear plants"

Isn't that a war crime?
"attacking a nuclear plant is generally considered a war crime under international humanitarian law. The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols strictly prohibit attacks on facilities containing "dangerous forces," such as nuclear power stations, if such an attack risks releasing radiation and causing significant civilian losses"




ORAC 28th March 2026 12:46


LBC news reporting American military are concerned that Tomahawk missiles stocks are being depleted.
Tomahawks being one of the main defences for the navy.
See post 3495. https://www.pprune.org/military-avia...l#post12059981

Tomahawk is an offensive strike cruise missile, not defensive.

ORAC 28th March 2026 12:48

Update

USAF United States Air Force - Coronet East

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 2x

#AE035D 58-0063 - GOLD 97
#AE047B 58-0117 - GOLD 98
+ MAZDA 41-44 Flt 4x USMC F-35C’s

Four U.S. Marine Corps F-35C’s departed RAF Lakenheath this morning supported by GOLD 97/98. Two aircraft remain, due to an unknown issue.

​​​​​​​

albatross 28th March 2026 13:00

QUOTE=Biggus;12060401

None of this is exactly rocket science.[/QUOTE]

Allow me to illustrate your point.

A planning room somewhere. My view of the War Planners of “Op Half Baked“
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5186041b9.jpeg


Law 18 is really important.!

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....3751e37a3.jpeg

[




DogTailRed2 28th March 2026 13:01


Originally Posted by ORAC (Post 12060424)
See post 3495. https://www.pprune.org/military-avia...l#post12059981

Tomahawk is an offensive strike cruise missile, not defensive.

Maybe I got that wrong. Can you use it to take out boats, planes and the like?

Ninthace 28th March 2026 13:07


Originally Posted by ninja-lewis (Post 12060169)
https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/ira...pdates?mod=mhp "An Iranian missile struck the Prince Sultan air base in Saudi Arabia on Friday, wounding several U.S. Service members and damaging several U.S. refueling aircraft, according to U.S. and Saudi officials familiar with the strike. The attack also involved unmanned aerial vehicles, the officials said."

The story led the BBC News at lunchtime - details were scant.


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