Iranian developments

Drinkthekoolaid wrote:Iran has all but promised attempting to avenge Soulemeni

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7847923/Iran-promises-crushing-revenge-America-assassination-general-Qasem-Soleimani.html

https://news.yahoo.com/iran-vows-harsh-response-us-064000730.html

It's on.  

If you have a pistol, carry it. Carry extra mags. I would personally avoid crowds and soft targets. Gas up your vehicles and storage cans, have enough food and water at home. Etc.

Iran is going to do something, somewhere.  Not sure if they keep it local in the middle East or attempt to attack us here with sleeper cells.

rick1 wrote:

Drinkthekoolaid wrote:Iran has all but promised attempting to avenge Soulemeni

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7847923/Iran-promises-crushing-revenge-America-assassination-general-Qasem-Soleimani.html

https://news.yahoo.com/iran-vows-harsh-response-us-064000730.html

It's on.  

If you have a pistol, carry it. Carry extra mags. I would personally avoid crowds and soft targets. Gas up your vehicles and storage cans, have enough food and water at home. Etc.

Iran is going to do something, somewhere.  Not sure if they keep it local in the middle East or attempt to attack us here with sleeper cells.

Oh yes, they're up on their toes now, depending what they actually do to get revenge, depends if we make a glass parking lot of them.

The area I live in is too far out in the sticks for them to come and get me, but I'm ready for them.

Forgot to add, I bet little rocket man has his eyeballs on what the U.S. has done and will do.

Cybersecurity professionals across the U.S. expressed a mixture of concern and caution Friday, with many explicitly saying that they are gearing up for potential retaliation from Iran, which has already proven in recent years to be a formidable adversary in the cyber realm.

The killing will be viewed by many inside Iran, and among its Shia regional allies, as an act of war, and Suleimani as a martyr whose violent death must be avenged in kind. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, and Mohammad Javad Zarif, its foreign minister, have already indicated as much. They will use the assassination to rally wavering support for the regime.

A senior Iranian commander on Saturday threatened that some 35 US targets in the Middle East, as well as Tel Aviv, were within the reach of Tehran to avenge the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

“The Strait of Hormuz is a vital point for the West and a large number of American destroyers and warships cross there … vital American targets in the region have been identified by Iran since long time ago ... some 35 US targets in the region as well as Tel Aviv are within our reach," he said, according to Reuters.

(SNIP) ... The Trump administration is essentially a one-trick pony when it comes to foreign policy toward hostile states. The standard quo is to apply massive economic pressure and demand surrender. This approach has failed in every case. Washington has caused enormous economic hardship, but no target regime has capitulated. In Iran, like North Korea, U.S. policy sharply raised tensions and the chances of conflict.

War would be a disaster. Instead, the administration must, explained James Fallows, “through bluff and patience, change the actions of a government whose motives he does not understand well, and over which his influence is limited.” Which requires the administration to adopt a new, more serious strategy toward Tehran, and quickly.

(SNIP) ... The arrival of the 2,500 Marines and the 3,000 paratroopers will add to the significant American troop buildup in the Middle East over the past several months, bringing the total to about 20,000 since the summer. The Trump Administration has said the buildup, which includes new air wings and missile defenses sent to Saudi Arabia in the wake of Iranian drone and cruise missile attack on a major oil facility there in September, are for self-defense purposes.

Politico first reported that a "task force of special operations troops," including elite soldiers from the 75th Ranger Regiment, were deploying in response to skyrocketing tensions between Washington and Tehran following the killing of top Iranian commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani.

The Defense Department official could not confirm exactly how many Rangers were deploying to the Middle East or where exactly they were headed due to operational security concerns.

The Pentagon initially announced the deployment or approximately 750 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East on Dec. 31 following an assault on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad by Iran-backed militiamen.

“If the US retaliates to our military response, we will raze Tel Aviv and Haifa to the ground,” Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei warned in a tweet late on Sunday.

As tension with Iran escalated the past few days, US spy agencies detected that the country was readying ballistic missile units, The New York Times reported.

(SNIP)

It is unclear whether the missile units were dispersed in an effort to avoid further American attacks or to prepare to attack US targets or allies in retaliation for the assassination of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, the Times reports.

“At this point, a cyberattack should be expected,” said Jon Bateman, a former Defense Intelligence Agency analyst on Iran’s cyber capabilities and now a cybersecurity fellow for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

A former leader of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa can be targeted to avenge a general killed by a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad.

Mohsen Rezaee made the comment Sunday in Tehran at a ceremony in honor of the slain leader Qassem Soleimani.

dmwalsh568 wrote:This won't end well....

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/05/iran-israel-revenge-targets-094141

Iran official says Israeli cities can be revenge targets

A former leader of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa can be targeted to avenge a general killed by a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad.

Mohsen Rezaee made the comment Sunday in Tehran at a ceremony in honor of the slain leader Qassem Soleimani.

I just hope Israel refrains from using nuclear weapons, or it's going to be one heck of a mess in the middle east. Sigh.

rick1 wrote:The U.S. isn't going to leave Iraq, at least not yet.  Only 1/3 of their house voted, the other 2/3rds has not voted yet to remove U.S. troops.

Iran is in its last day of a 3 day mourning period for the dead General. The fireworks will begin pretty soon. The U.S. is looking forward to cyber attacks among other attacks:

https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/476699-senior-officials-warn-of-potential-for-iranian-cyberattacks-on-the-us

rick1 wrote:To be honest, I'm very surprised that the U.S. hasn't sent troops and SAM's to Israel, but of course they don't tell you everything.

Just sit back and watch the fireworks boys and grils, 'cause it's coming.

Dave58 wrote:I Just read this on the Drudge report. It really is true that one hand doesn't know what the other is doing

By killing Qassem Soleimani, the architect of Iran’s expanded influence across the Middle East, the Trump administration escalated simmering tensions with Tehran. But escalating the conflict with the U.S. even more would threaten the Iranian regime's ability to stay in power, writes Suzanne Maloney. This article originally appeared in the Washington Post.

Iran knows how to bide its time. Don’t expect immediate retaliation for Soleimani.

rick1 wrote:Here's what Victor Davis Hanson has to say about Iran, including what Russia, North Korea and China may or may not be thinking. Very good article:


https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/iranian-analytics/

Missiles were fired early Wednesday in multiple locations across Iraq, a senior U.S. military source in the country told Fox News, describing it as a series of attacks on U.S. forces from Iran.

The Pentagon has sent six B-52 heavy bombers to a British base in the Indian Ocean to stand by in case tensions with Iran escalate into a military confrontation.

The nuclear-capable bombers at Diego Garcia will be within striking distance of the Persian Gulf but out of the range of Iranian missiles.

Indeed, as a strong U.S. ally – as well as the target of a constant stream of threats from Iran – some in Israel worry it could suffer retaliatory attacks by Teheran.

Iranian avengers, in the form of Quds Force-supported Hezbollah operatives of the clandestine “Unit 910,” are stationed in cities across America, set to activate pending distant command on target lists they have painstakingly developed over time.

A senior Iranian official has already threatened to strike Israel if America were to respond militarily to any Iranian retaliation for the death of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, the chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, and the driving force behind Iran’s network of proxy armies such as Hezbollah.

"If the US takes any action after our military response, we will level Tel Aviv and Haifa to the ground," said Mohsen Rezayee, Secretary of Iran's Expediency Council and a former IRGC commander, according to Iran’s Fars News Agency. The council advises Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and also has legislative powers.

U.S. forces throughout the Middle East have been placed on high alert for possible drone strikes from Iran — which has recently begun moving its own military equipment.

(SNIP) ... Forces had already been on high alert for several days, but that threat level was escalated Monday night, according to two U.S. officials.

US intelligence also has observed Iran moving military equipment, including drones and ballistic missiles, over the last several days. US officials said the movement may be an Iranian effort to secure its weapons from a potential US strike, or put them in positions to launch their own attacks.

"There were indications that we needed to monitor the threats" even more closely than is already being done, one of the US officials said, referring to Monday night's state of heightened alert. The second official described it as "all Patriot batteries and forces in the area on high alert" against an "imminent attack threat."

Chief-Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami has warned that the country will set fire to the places Americans love if Washington decides to respond to Iran’s revenge for General Qassem Soleimani’s assassination.

Speaking on the sidelines of a funeral ceremony for General Soleimani on Tuesday, General Salami said Americans well know where those places are.

“We will take revenge. We will set ablaze wherever they love,” General Salami said, drawing the cries of “Death to Israel!”

Addressing a meeting of his government’s National Security Council shortly after the killing, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said that any violent response would take the form of “a direct and proportional attack on American interests” carried out by Iranian forces, The New York Times reports.

(SNIP) ... According to Reuters, the head of the security council, Ali Shamkhani, has reportedly stated that 13 “revenge scenarios” are being considered by the Ayatollah, who is said to have had a close relationship with Soleimani.

Even the weakest option would prove “a historic nightmare for the Americans”, said Shamkhani, in quotes reported by Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency.

Drinkthekoolaid wrote:I really hope these reports are not accurate, it looks like Iran may be done mourning and is now retaliating.

https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/iran-attack-alert-sent-via-us-state-dept-text-system

There is a running timeline blog update in the hal Turner link

Here is an Iranian Twitter account showing missile launches.
https://mobile.twitter.com/farsnews_agency?ref_url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.rt.com%2frtmobile%2fnews%2flatest%2f477676%2fhtml%3fdark_mode%3d0%26font_scale%3d0.500000%26indent_left%3d5%26indent_right%3d5%26indent_top%3d279%26hide%3dsection%2ctitle%2cdate%2ccover

More than six US Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighter jets left Al-Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates at around 2 am Wednesday, according to multiple local Middle Eastern sources, possibly heading to respond to Tuesday night’s Iranian attack on American targets in Iraq.

The warplanes left the UAE just about two minutes after the Ain Al-Asad Air Base came under rocket and missile fire from Iran, and from a local Iranian proxy militia in Iraq.

(SNIP) ... preliminary reports suggest there are no U.S. casualties yet, two sources with direct knowledge of actions on the ground have told Military Times Tuesday night.

The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command have not provided a formal battle damage assessment.

TRex2 wrote:
Israel has the Iron Dome, and I believe they have Patriots, also. I don't know if they have THAAD, but I will keep my ears open.

rick1 wrote:Some 10,000 cyber attacks aimed at computers in Texas, let the games begin:

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/01/07/texas-officials-fear-iranian-cyber-attack-attempts-may-be-increasing/

Drinkthekoolaid wrote:I'm crossing my fingers that there were no US casualties and this can find a way to be deescalated.
Should have an official statement soon.

rick1 wrote:I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the civilian plane that went down in Iran wright after the missiles were launched.

The Iranians say it was a mechanical malfunction one hour after the crash, the news says one of the engines was on fire. The passengers were mostly from the Ukraine and Canada, U.S. allies.

The Iranians won't let Boeing in to check the mechanics of the plane crash, I wonder why?

Drinkthekoolaid wrote:

rick1 wrote:I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the civilian plane that went down in Iran wright after the missiles were launched.

The Iranians say it was a mechanical malfunction one hour after the crash, the news says one of the engines was on fire. The passengers were mostly from the Ukraine and Canada, U.S. allies.

The Iranians won't let Boeing in to check the mechanics of the plane crash, I wonder why?

It's entirely possible that the engine was on fire because the plane was hit by a missile.

The mechanical failure may have been the radar officer on the Sam battery was confused....

rick1 wrote:...
Fox news just reported it was shot down by Iran with a Russian missile, of course they say it was by accident.

The assassination of Maj. Gen. Qassem Suleimani, perhaps the second most powerful person in Iran behind Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, will reverberate in the Middle East and beyond for years, and perhaps decades. But the immediate consequences, several U.S. intelligence officials say privately, will be clear: more deaths, and some of them American. Tuesday’s noisy attacks, despite the reassuring words of the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that they were a “proportionate measure,” were only the beginning.

Those killings will be carried out using tools Suleimani, who was assassinated in Iraq by a U.S. drone strike, himself built.  ...

Iran has warned the United States to prepare for a “dark day” of revenge for the killing of General Qassim Soleimani - but it remains unclear how and when the regime will retaliate.

Experts say one thing is likely, which is that any response to the US airstrike will be carried out by Iran’s large network of proxies in the Middle East, rather than its own soldiers or spies.

This is because the Iranian regime is reluctant to trigger direct confrontation with the US, even though the assassination of Soleimani marks the biggest escalation between the two countries in decades.

But the immediate consequences, several U.S. intelligence officials say privately, will be clear: more deaths, and some of them American.