Breaking: Israel Attacks Iran

F&F

here's the link

R1 There was no link yet when I posted this.

World War III is here, bitches!!

Good.

I didn't follow the full story. What is Israel preempting? Was Iran assumed to attack Israel in the near future?

You just didn't look hard enough, R1. You wanted so much to be the DL Correction Troll that you posted too quickly. But that's the nature of breaking news. You can't just look on the feeds of your whores on TikTok, X and Meta.

Now? The DL Correction Troll has come for you.

Fuck what, OP? This happens frequently.

hahahahahahahahahahahaha

G7's gonna be lit!

Armagideon Time

Good

Iran blows ass.

Doesn’t Iran involve itself either hamas?

I assumed R1 wanted us to F&F his post so I did.

say what now?

It’s a shitty country

Iran cannot be allowed to get nukes. Regardless of what one thinks of the Gaza situation, that is a fact. Israel will do what it has to do here and the US should fully support it.

This is Netanyahu doing whatever he can to keep the country on a war footing so he can stay in office. I wonder who he's going to attack next?

Does anyone believe that Iran doesn't already have nukes?

Girls,.girls!! You're both ugly!!

perhaps tiresome concern trolls, R19

This like the 5th time and every time you kweens screetchn WORLD WAR 3 !!!

Israel attacks Iran

Iran retaliates and attacks U.S. bases in Iraq

Trump uses that as a pretext to attack Iran

This has all been arranged. It’s the way the U.S. is goaded into doing Israel’s bidding for that country to expand its regional hegemony. It already happened with Iraq. A trillion dollars of U.S. taxpayer money, and thousands of American lives, to decapitate a rival to Israel.

Neither the US nor Israel acts like Iran has nukes, r20, so no, I don't think the IC thinks they do have it yet.

Netanyahu and Trump and Putin three fucks in a tub

Where are all the Repugs who screamed "World War 3!" while Biden was in office?

Isn't Bibibop biting off more than he can chew this time? I mean, pushing hordes of starving refugees around is easy compared to targeting a desperate country with no more fucks to give.

Exactly r19!

Well, this news certainly pissed on Trump’s picnic. Good.

Armageddon outta here!

R19, the skies the limit. Israel is now bombing Lebanon, Syria, Iran and, of course, the land of the dead, Gaza.

Fucking Trump installs his real estate developer/billionaire bud as Special Middle East envoy and this is the result. He makes Jared Kushner look like an ME afficionado in comparison. Installing loyalists, donors and buddies in key positions and this is the result.

Iran is a Russian ally and of course this will interrupt mango Mussolini so I am thinking this is Bibi’s “I will not be ignored Don” bunny killing play.

Mango Mussolini’s egomaniacal birthday parade

Haaretz is the best, most up-to-date source for this and all Israel-related news:

R35, this part is bitterly funny. Happy Birthday, Donnie, let’s make you look extra weak.

Everyone is so over their heads. Rubio will be leading this

^ is in

This is not good. God helps us. There are so many issues in the USA/World.

In these days, focus on things that make you happy because we don't know how much time....

NYT coverage on this is, as usual, excellent. Lots of updates every few minutes. Unlocked version of their main article on the current developments at the link

[r34]bunny killing

Cumulus' interest is piqued. 🐇🦴🫀🫁🧠

We're toast.

This is why I really thought long and hard about humane euthanasia when Trump was reelected. We are now at the juncture everyone said I was ridiculous for thinking would happen.

....

And on the eve of the orange one's birthday! What a nice surprise gift.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that the United States was “not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region.” He added that “Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense.”

He ended his statement with a warning to Iran against any form of retaliation aimed at the U.S. forces in the region: “Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.”

Thank God we have capable, competent leaders! Right?

I doubt the fact that Trump's military parade is two days away is a coincidence. That was probably planned, for all this shit to happen all at once.

Nuke me. I'm ready.

Genocidal Israel take billions of dollars from the United States (and we willingly give it to Israel), and reports are that Israel doesn't even tell the U.S. of its bombing plans. Disgraceful and ungrateful. Cut off military aid and money to Israel. Marco Rubio's statement is warm piss and shows incredible weakness on the part of the United States:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that the United States was “not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region.” He added that “Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense.”

Goddamn Israel, the price oil will go up tomorrow, and the stock market will tank based on the current overnight futures market. Fuck Israel.

Trump will handle this as well as the Ukraine War he ended on day one.

I'm not sure that Trump will end up that pissed off about this. Depends on what Iran does. If Iran's response hits something even remotely to do with the US, Trump will have an excuse to get involved. I actually think he wants some sort of US military action to be happening, either here (LA "riots"), or there, during his upcoming parade, so he can talk about Americans supporting the troops and all that shit.

[Quote] “Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.”

He said, desperately wanting just that.

[quote] That was probably planned, for all this shit to happen all at once.

Trump probably called Netanyahoo telling him to nuke Iran to make a distraction from all the shit he's done this week .

R52, I'm not sure about that. I think that war in the Middle East is an incredibly toxic subject in the U.S. No one now will defend the war in Iraq.

I wonder how the White House is feeling about those 100 NSC staffers Trump fired. Hmm.

Iran was about to develop a vaccine so JFK Jr. ordered the hit.

The commander in chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Gen. Hossein Salami has been killed in the Israeli strikes, Iranian state television reports. The deputy commander of Iran’s armed forces, Gen. Gholamali Rashid, and Fereydoun Abbasi, a nuclear scientist, have also been killed, it adds.

The dummy anchorman on BBC World News said earlier that Netanyahu had referenced “the city of New Jersey” when describing the destruction potential of an Iranian nuclear warhead. Tee hee.

No, I think Trump will be pissed. It’s all about making money or the Nobel Peace Prize with him. Israel’s attack cannot serve either end.

R43 My life insurance is paid up. I’m ready.

R58, Israel has a history of assassinating the leaders of various groups only to bring to power younger and more competent leaders.

From Trump...you know, the one who wanted to end all the wars.

The situation is escalating in the Middle East. Gazans are living amongst death, rubble while starving due to Israel carrying out genocide on innocent Palestinians. And oh yeah, how are things in Ukraine?

Reports that Israel has taken out several of Iran's senior military leadership as well as the chief scientists in charge of their nuclear weapons program.

Let's hope that old piece of shit Khamenei is next.

They’ll just replace him with an even more insane nutter, r64

R64 Israel must have insanely good intelligence on the ground the way they are able to target specific leaders. At least in the short term it does destabilize the enemy.

Oh please R59 - an American laughing at another country’s news reader for not being geographically aware? Do you not see the irony?

Tee hee that.

This is definitely Bibi forcing Trump's hand and I am here for it. He wants to avoid military conflicts like the plague because he knows they're bad for his approval ratings. That was one of the signature achievements of his first term and also an important – though not often discussed – factor in his reelection, i.e. being different from the traditional war hawk Repubs.

[quote]IRGC commander Hossein Salami killed in strikes: Iranian state TV

Oof, this is gonna blow up.

A certain small group of people benefit from violence and they seem to continually have an excuse to perpetuate it. The tools of violence are incredibly profitable, in fact the most profitable of objects made are weapons. The use of weapons perpetuates the demand for more weapons and creates a virtuous cycle of war business profiteering. This is how world wars happen. Israel may have just started wwIII. Israel is a major arms manufacturer as are the five permanent members of the security council. These five members most profitable manufactured exports are weapons. This is getting really scary.

Wow! If Trump is very much against this-Then I’m All For It!!! Bring it on Bibi! I hate that Jewish Trump.

r71 Wars aren't caused by the mere existence and production of weapons, that's such a lopsided naive view. A world with eight billion people with different nationalities, religions and other interests is a messy place, wars are unavoidable. If certain countries didn't have nukes, we would probably have constant wars all over the place.

Also, someone is going to be producing those weapons, whether you like it or not. So it might as well be your country, so you at least get to benefit from it indirectly.

No one in the region is surprised by this (everyone was expecting it in fact) and yes, it makes Trump look bad because he was telling Israel not to do it. (Trump's the one who's always saying "If I had been president, [the Ukraine war/Yemen war/Gaza war etc. etc.] would never have started." So much for that.)

[quote]Trump uses that as a pretext to attack Iran. This has all been arranged. It’s the way the U.S. is goaded into doing Israel’s bidding for that country to expand its regional hegemony.

You think you're smart but this is actually quite dumb and uninformed. The Trump crowd does not like foreign wars, even on behalf of Israel.

Iran is in a bad position, they've lost a bunch of allies recently and there's not much they can do in response, so no, the chances of WW3 are pretty slim.

I REFUSE to vote for Genocide Joe!

Trump GOES MUTE as WAR EXPLODES!!!

[quote] In these days, focus on things that make you happy because we don't know how much time....

Hold me, David: I'm scared...

There's not going to be a World War because it's the international criminal cabal on one side and the rest of us on the other and we don't have a military

Trump will not like being seen as the impotent one on the sidelines.

Iran wouldn’t have shut had Trump not torn up the agreement Obama made with them.

Iran wouldn’t have shit had Trump not torn up the agreement Obama made with them.

[quote] This is definitely Bibi forcing Trump's hand and I am here for it. He wants to avoid military conflicts like the plague because he knows they're bad for his approval ratings.

My god, you’re a moron. Trump doesn’t give a shit about approval ratings. He can’t even run again. Trump is keep to destroy the country because it prosecuted him. He’s an old man and wants the country to die with him.

A reminder that Iran have been arming Russia with drones to attack Ukraine for years now.

Should've strapped Greta to one of those bombs, lol.

Among those killed was Mohammadhossein Bagheri, Iran’s most senior military official, multiple Iranian state news outlets reported. Bagheri, who was chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, had a status equivalent to that of Qassem Suleimani, the high-profile commander of Iran’s secretive Quds Force whom President Donald Trump ordered killed in a drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020.

Tasnim, the state media arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), reported that Hossein Salami, the commander in chief of the IRGC, was also killed in an attack at the Tehran headquarters. The loss of both Bagheri and Salami is likely to be a big blow to Iran’s security forces.

Israeli strikes also killed Maj. Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, a top official in the IRGC; Fereydoon Abbasi, a nuclear scientist and former atomic energy chief; and Mohammed Mehdi Tehranchi, a nuclear scientist, Iranian state media reported.

Is anyone sending flowers to Christiane Amanpour? She will be devastated by this loss.

Damn. Israel managed to do major targeted damage. It will take Iran quite a bit of time to recover from this.

[quote]Trump will not like being seen as the impotent one on the sidelines.

There's no way that Netanyahu would have attacked Iran without Trump's personal go-ahead. Just no way.

Why would any Iranian aspire to be a nuclear scientist? This isn't the first time Israel has targeted them with success.

R89. In life, the most perfect aim is for istishadi (seeking martyrdom) through jihad, and the martyr will receive bountiful gifts in paradise. Men will receive 72 virgins in the hadith corpus.

I wonder if gay Muslims get 72 twinks!

Now might be a good time to catch up with Tehran on AppleTV. Glenn Close in a hijab!

Gay Muslims get stoned to death or burned to death or beaten to death or thrown off a tall building R91.

No twinks at all.

Israel is a national death cult with a deranged death wish. It's well on its way.

I hate how it's got the US by the balls

Given the success of this attack on Iran's nuclear capability, how long until Trump claims he was instrumental in it all along (even if he wasn't)?

0.6 seconds R95.

FAFO

[quote]Israel is a national death cult with a deranged death wish. It's well on its way. I hate how it's got the US by the balls

JACKSON HINKLE IS THAT YOU?

R95, a number of high-ranking people have been killed, but we didn’t know how that has actually affected Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Yes, R99, it’s always been the informed wisdom that only the US had the artillery to materially affect Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

R94 Delusional, Trump gave Iran 60 days. Israel bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities on day 61. Iran has said their goal is to wipe Israel off of the map.

When people tell you who they are, believe them.

Iran’s terrorist proxies are weakened. Now is the time. Let’s hope the populace can rise up and throw out the evil mullahs.

R99, From CNN: 3 hr 8 min ago Iran’s main uranium enrichment facility engulfed by flames From CNN’s Teele Rebane Isaac Yee This screengrab from a video geolocated by CNN shows smoke rising from the direction of the Natanz nuclear facility in central Iran, about 260 km south of Tehran. This screengrab from a video geolocated by CNN shows smoke rising from the direction of the Natanz nuclear facility in central Iran, about 260 km south of Tehran. Social Media The facility at the heart of Iran’s nuclear ambitions was engulfed in flames on Friday, according to social media images geolocated by CNN and Iranian state television.

The nuclear complex in Natanz, a city about 250 kilometers (150 miles) south of the capital Tehran, is considered Iran’s largest uranium enrichment facility and houses the country’s advanced nuclear program. Analysts say the site is used to develop and assemble centrifuges for uranium enrichment, a key technology that turns uranium into nuclear fuel.

Social media video geolocated by CNN shows smoke rising from the direction of the facility. Video from Press TV shows large plumes of smoke billowing high into the sky from the complex. Data from NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System showed a fire at the facility starting after 2 a.m. local time (7 p.m. ET).

The Iranian government has not commented publicly on the Israeli attacks. In July 2020, a fire tore through the Natanz facility, causing major damage to the site, which Tehran had struggled to explain the origins of.

The fire was one of several unusual incidents that occurred across the country around that time.

The series of incidents came about a year after Iran announced it would start enriching uranium at higher levels and in greater quantities than agreed to in a landmark 2015 nuclear deal, part of Tehran’s response to the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the accord, effectively killing it.

It's an amazing disconnect to see Americans cheering on the ICE protests condemning Israel for neutralising a rogue state that executes protestors and those who show dissent.

ONE DAY AGO

[quote]But the drones that Iran has launched so far today seem mostly symbolic - a far cry from the Tehran’s major ballistic missile attack on Israel last October. For all its defiant rhetoric, Iran’s ability to mount a direct military response is not what it was.

BBC reporting that Iran has been declawed so much in October's and today's strikes, it can't really mount a proper retaliation. Can't really use their land army to do anything, so they're kinda fucked.

Netanyahu informed me about attack, German Chancellor Merz says

Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in a statement that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed him about Israel’s attack on Iran in a phone call this morning.

“Israel has a right to defend itself and Iran should not develop nuclear weapons,” Merz said, while calling on both sides to refrain from escalation.

Merz did not say whether he was forewarned about the strikes.

I wonder how many world leaders, regardless of what they say publicly, are breathing a sigh of relief that Israel did this. Especially since it was quite successful. It's hard to imagine that many were looking forward to the Islamic Republic of Iran becoming a nuclear power.

r106 Agreed. Can kicked down the road for a decade, but probably longer.

Did anyone else read the NYT article a couple of days ago on how Iran was going to start a major crackdown on pet dog ownership?

I bet that has moved lower in the priority list.

Didn't see THAT coming.

R43 is planning to kill himself because Israel attacked Irans weapons grade nuke program. And since this is DL that makes sense to at least say it.

But since it’s DL it will be Talk talk yack yack all hot air and silly make believe talk.

[quote]I bet that has moved lower in the priority list.

I think quite the opposite. They can't retaliate to the extent they'd like, so they'll double down on the repression, take all that frustration out on their own population. It's a disgusting regime, though shades of what they're doing can currently also be found in the US, which has a disgusting regime in place as well.

r43, calm down. You'll be ok.

Yeah, r43 is being hysterical and uninformed. Just read the damn analyses, how is Iran supposed to respond if its aerial capabilities have been taken out to such an extent? Their military is not as mighty as you seem to believe, far from it. And like I said, they can't exactly march their land forces over to Israel, can they?

[quote]There's not going to be a World War because it's the international criminal cabal on one side and the rest of us on the other and we don't have a military

It won't be a World War like any other. Wait until the signal is given to activate all the terror cells occupying the West. We all know it's probably coming. Push them enough and it WILL happen.

EL, R108, This was recently in the BBC. Oh well, I'm a cat person and Mohammed loved cats! I've never been to Iran, but I’ve been to Türkiye and they seem to be genuinely fond of cats and dogs. There are lots of strays in Istanbul but they are really well taken care of. People clean up after them too. No stepping in poop like in Paris.

[quote]Wait until the signal is given to activate all the terror cells occupying the West.

You watch too many (bad) movies.

R116 This was a movie?

I have a number of Iranian friends. Not just of Iranian descent but originally from Iran and still visit family there. According to them, the current regime is very unpopular. I'm wondering how long it will be before they are overthrown. They've had one revolution, they can have another.

r117 That was a decade ago and the whole point of the video is to examine the missteps and systemic breakdowns that led to those events. They were a fluke, not the norm. Intelligence agencies have adapted since.

R108, the story is further proof that most people love pets. Muslims are not supposed to have pet dogs any more than they are supposed to drink alcohol, and yet Iranians have always kept pets (and well-stocked liquor cabinets). In the early days of the Islamic Republic Iranian dog-owners walked their dogs after dark.

[quote]According to them, the current regime is very unpopular.

You don't need Iranian acquaintances to tell you that, r118. The more shocking thing is how many Iranians (in Iran, not expats) are not religious and how many mosques are empty. Now that's something you'll never see reported because it fucks with the image of Iran being an eternal menace.

But, the regime keeps them on a tight leash and the police and the military are well paid, so don't expect a revolution any time soon. It's been in the making for decades now and still nothing.

r120 I've always loved stories of ex-Muslims from more oppressive countries/families getting dogs and gushing over them and posting their photos online, saying they can't believe what they were missing out. What a terrible religion that says the man's best friend is somehow unclean.

I’d be terrified to have a dog in a regime that could just take them away at any time

[quote]I wonder how many world leaders, regardless of what they say publicly, are breathing a sigh of relief that Israel did this.

Many, and that includes Mideast leaders.

Trump has responded to the air strikes on Truth Social, making it all about him:

I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to “just do it,” but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done. I told them it would be much worse than anything they know, anticipated, or were told, that the United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come - And they know how to use it. Certain Iranian hardliner’s spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse! There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end. Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. God Bless You All!

Ahh, remember when one of Trump’s talking points was that not major military action in the world took place when her was president because everyone was so afraid of him?

R96, R95 (me), It looks like Trump is ready to take the credit.

Trump says he gave Iran 'chance after chance' to make a deal on nuclear capabilities

President Donald Trump in his latest post on Truth Social said he had given Iran “chance after chance to make a deal” on its nuclear capabilities.

Trump said he had previously warned Iran that Israel, along with the U.S., had “lethal military equipment...and know how to use it,” against “certain Iranian hardliner’s [sic]” who he said “spoke bravely.”

"They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!" Trump said, adding that Iran must make a deal before the attacks escalate further.

[Quote] I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal.

Trump was the one who ended Obama’s agreement with Iran. Even Israel said it was a huge mistake because it gave Iran time to restart it’s nuclear weapons program

Bibi will keep war going continuously to stay in power

Iran now being taken off the DL Approved list of countries —-“where can I flee to countries”—-because these people who are the Iran police might take your dog away.

Reason enough to go to Panama instead,

Love that picture R115!

r106, agreed. Major world leaders are secretly very happy about this. No one sane wants Iran joining the nuke club.

Feels like I've been reading about that Natanz plant for as long as I've been alive, and now it's gone. Or at least out of operation for a long, long time.

Bibi couldn't have nailed the timing better, too. That is one savvy bastard.

[quote] When people tell you who they are, believe them.

Oh, drop the Maya Angelou crap. You’re a brain dead moron. You don’t start wars because you think someone could do something. There was an agreement with Iran that worked. Trump ripped it up. Now kindly fuck off.

Taking out Iran's nuke capabilities was one thing. Taking out the so-called Islamic revolutionary Guards that are nothing more than bearded North Korean officers would be quite another one. I would be very disappointed if Israel (with or without the US) doesn't go all the way now.

[quote] I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal.

Who the fuck are you?

R118, it’s this type of shit that make governments popular. They won’t overthrow now.

R131, Israel and Saudi Arabia (maybe) care about this. The rest of us live in a world in which MANY bad actors have nukes. That horse has left the barn. There have been rumors that the Saudis helped finance Pakistan’s nuclear program so if Iran acquired nuclear weapons the Saudis would have them too.

R134, we overthrew the Iranian government before. There were unpleasant and unforeseen consequences.

r134 They did take their commander out, which is huge both in symbolic and practical terms.

You can't take out all of the IRGC because it's comprised of soldiers who live all over. There's around 125k of them, so it's a bit like wanting to take out the entire wing of the US military. Besides, it's the head honchos you want, not the foot soldiers.

So now where going to pump billions into Israel to support their war with Iran? And become a target ourselves?

Diplomacy was so much cheaper.

Let's thank Greta and her Freedom Flotilla for their invaluable part in distracting attention in the days before Operation Rising Lion. We couldn't have done it without you! 🇮🇱

[quote]So now where going to pump billions into Israel to support their war with Iran?

Now? This has been going on for decades. Military aid in the billions annually started under Bill Clinton, btw.

Tom Nichols in The Atlantic tries to gin up some enthusiasm for Israel's strategy, but concedes that it looks like a preventative, rather than preemptive, war. A preemptive war is meant to stop an imminent threat; a preventative war tries to remove a threat that is real but not imminent. Preventative wars are usually looked on as "both illegal and immoral" and often have disastrous consequences. Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and the U.S. invasion of Iraq both started out as stunning successes. They did not end that way.

First two Iranian drones have made it to Israel's territory and they both have been intercepted.

It's not looking good for Iran, but not retaliating with what little they have left would have been even more embarrassing, at home and abroad.

It will probably be a pitiful response from Iran, lobbing 100 bomb-drones at Israel and only 6 or 7 get through.

After Rubio announced that the US had nothing to do with the attack, Trump is claiming credit.

Guess he wanted to see how it worked out before saying “It was me!”

Fox New is suggesting that Israel took out the entire high command of the Iranian Air Force:

Israel says it tricked Iranian air force leaders into meeting before deadly strikes

An Israeli security official told Fox News that Israel was able to trick top commanders of Iran's air force into gathering for a meeting.

“We carried out specific activities to help us learn more about them, and then used that information to influence their behavior,” the official said. “We knew this would lead them to meet — but more importantly, we knew how to keep them there.”

The official added that the strikes were more successful than Israel had anticipated. According to the source, air defense systems and ballistic missiles that were intended for use against Israel were preemptively targeted.

Axios is reporting that this was indeed all coordinated with the US.

[quote]But in the hours after the attack began, Israeli officials briefed reporters that this was all coordinated with Washington. Two Israeli officials claimed to Axios that Trump and his aides were only pretending to oppose an Israeli attack in public — and didn't express opposition in private. "We had a clear U.S. green light," one claimed. The goal, they say, was to convince Iran that no attack was imminent and make sure Iranians on Israel's target list wouldn't move to new locations. Netanyahu's aides even briefed Israeli reporters that Trump had tried to put the brakes on an Israeli strike in a call on Monday, when in reality the call dealt with coordination ahead of the attack, Israeli officials now say.

r43, why don't you just start shrieking, "GAME OVER, MAN! GAME OVER!!"? You'd come across as equally histrionic.

Telegram channels reporting explosions in Qom, reports of new attack wave across Iran. 30 minutes until sunset in Tehran.

Well, good thing they're not signal chats.

Not sure why the joke, Telegram has been extremely useful throughout the war in Ukraine. Most everyone outside the US uses it.

Damn, R146. All of the top Iranian commanders lured to a single-location meeting and given motivation to stay there. There is just no substitute for intelligent planning/strategy, and that remains Israel's strength. Also obviously there are no traitorous moles in Israel's military higher-up, or Iran would have been tipped off.

[quote]The directive to take out Iran’s nuclear program was given in November 2024, says Netanyahu in a video statement, pledging to give daily video updates when possible. “The directive came shortly after the assassination of [Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah,” he says, adding that it was clear to him that Iran would rush toward the bomb once its proxy axis was shattered by Israel.

[quote]Netanyahu set the date for the end of April 2025, he says. He points to “various reasons” it couldn’t be done then, without going into detail. One very pressing reason might have been Trump’s announcement in April that he would engage in direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program. Instead, it was set for this morning, he says, without explaining why he chose that day.

[Quote] It will probably be a pitiful response from Iran, lobbing 100 bomb-drones at Israel and only 6 or 7 get through.

Yes, you’d almost guess that the entire Israeli narrative is a complete sham and Israel has all the power behind it, and is in fact acting like an evil, tyrannical regional hegemon, murdering and destroying anyone it doesn’t like, anyone in its way.

Invite them to their own unscheduled staff meeting then when they show up you blow them up.

Color me impressed

[quote]🤷🏻‍♂️

I understand your confusion, you're conflating Iran's conventional weapons with their nuclear armament, which is/was near completion. Easy mistake to make if all the info about geopolitics you get comes from Greta's TikTok.

Dear emoji-wearing fool at R154, this isn't about the drones. Israel is trying to destroy Iran's NUKES.

And Trumps popularity goes up not by a lot but by some.

Let’s face it you would have to be very progressive to be a public supporter of Iran's nuke grade weapons program,

National Security Advisor Hanegbi says Khamenei and his friends are not targets. So Khamenei can unclench, I guess.

Troll logic:

It doesn’t matter how stupid the statement as long as the word hegemony is used.

R159 I’m not a fan of any country having nuclear weapons, and I wish there would be more focus on disarmament, but if a country like Israel has nuclear weapons then why shouldn’t Iran? It’s a bit rich of the US to say that a different country is too unstable to have nuclear weapons tbh. As things currently stand, the most likely county to use a nuclear weapon is Israel. Take theirs away.

Actually troll logic is taking one word and claiming your opponent is invalid because of it, elderjew.

[quote]but if a country like Israel has nuclear weapons then why shouldn’t Iran?

Because Iran has a theocratic regime which has expressed over and over again that Israel must be destroyed? You really want those nutters getting a nuke? You know they'd lob it at the Vatican after they're done with Jerusalem, right?

This isn't like Pakistan and India where both having nukes means neither side will use it. Iran WOULD use them on Israel because it's a small country that can be wiped out pretty easily. The Jews said never again after the Holocaust and they fucking mean it.

Tell us, elderfascist, what’s the difference between Trump using MS-13 as a brick to throw at all immigrants, and your use of Hamas as a brick to throw at all Palestinians?

The hypocrisy of these “liberal American Zionists” is breathtaking to behold.

If it were any other country doing what Israel is, elderfascist would be screaming her lungs out to divest and intervene. The ziono cult is deeply crazy. DEEPLY.

r158 That bastard has such a bizarre luck with geopolitics, things just sort of come together when he's in office.

Anscher is off its meds again

R162 another progressive advocating for the Iranians to have a successful nuke weapons grade program,

R164 Israel is a theocracy too? As are (functionally) a lot of the countries with nuclear weapons. I’d be as secure with Iran having nuclear weapons as I am with Israel currently having them.

[quote] Iran WOULD use them on Israel because it's a small country that can be wiped out pretty easily. The Jews said never again after the Holocaust and they fucking mean it.

This is just speculation on your part tbh. The Israelis don’t really seem to believe the “never again” part based on what they’re doing in Gaza. Seems to be a case of “again, but this time we do the exterminating”.

And your point, r168? If you’re so against Iran having nukes, where’s your argument Israel shouldn’t? Since 1948 Israel has been the country that attacked its neighbors the most.

So help us understand your logic.

R168 I’m not - I said I’d much prefer an effort towards a global disarmament program. But in the real world, saying “oh you’re too crazy to have nuclear weapons” when the people saying that are Trump and Netanyahu doesn’t exactly hold much heavy water (there’s a nuclear joke for you).

r169 Last I checked, Israel has regular elections, just like any Western democracy. So no, not a theocracy. No offence, but you probably shouldn't be debating these issues when you don't even appear to have the most basic of concepts straight.

By the way r168, North Korea has nukes. Where are your cries for us or South Korea to attack them? You seem awfully quiet about that.

[quote] No offence, but you probably shouldn't be debating these issues when you don't even appear to have the most basic of concepts straight.

Not to silence anyone, or anything.

So much for open debate. I see why you're on the side you're on.

R172 you call me next time a non Jewish person has a possibility of becoming head of state in Israel. They describe themselves as a “Jewish and democratic state” inherently contradictory. Also have a google of “Arab surveillance Israel elections” and see what you come up with.

r174 No one is silencing anyone. But you really should know the difference between a democracy and a theocracy. I mean, fucking hell, that's like the most basic thing in the world.

And you don't need to white knight for anyone either, I'm sure that poster can respond on his own, I assume he's not a child.

When you've lost the argument, start tone policing. Or talking about dead kiddies in the streets. That works, too.

R173 start a thread about NKorea and see. This thread has nothing to do with N Korea or Japan in 1945. See two threads you could start..

R176 I acknowledge my error. It’s very early in the morning and I meant “functional theocracy” in my head but didn’t type it.

[quote] Or talking about dead kiddies in the streets.

You sound normal R177.

Israel estimates this will go on for two weeks.

The last thought from the last AF General still alive—-“ oh shit maybe we should have listened to Trump he did give us 60 days and I……..

Then they were all dead.

You must study your enemy honestly.. Trump comes off like an intelligent leader wishing the best for Iran and the US will help—-just no weapons grade nuke program.

It makes lots of sense at least if you are a non progressive.

Not white knighting for anyone. Just wanted to get my voice in--but then, you seem to have a problem with people speaking up with opinions that disagree with yours, don't you?

The successor to Qasem Soleimani – assassinated by Trump in 2020 – has been killed.

Israel has stopped attacking in distinct waves because they have achieved total air supremacy over Iran. They're now striking freely and constantly.

The Houthis have responded, but it hasn't gone exactly as planned...

[quote]Debris from the Houthi missile hit a Palestinian village near Hebron.

Lol!

Poor Miss Omar is angry that some Zionist people did something!

This never woulda happened when I was President.

What is happening?

The Houthis are such a cartoonish nuisance, they just make me laugh. But then it gets really sad when you see footage from that place and the conditions those people live in. Kids walking around barefoot and just trash everywhere. Iran makes a hellhole out of all its proxies.

Walz making his play for 2028 by saying that it’s china that has the moral authority to end this .

r187 Biden was basically paying them not to develop nukes and it still didn't help. I was on Iran's side for the longest time (most of my life, actually) but time's run out, this had to be done. I just feel bad for the people who can't shake off that damn regime.

[quote]I was on Iran's side for the longest time (most of my life, actually)

You were on the side of a regime that oppressed its citizens for decades, executed gay people by hanging them from cranes in sports stadiums, kidnapped foreign nationals and held them hostage and unleashed a war of terror against the west?

I meant the Iranian people, not the regime. But I've lost hope even for them.

If you support the Iranian people then you will be cheering on Israel.

So, if Iran goes batshit on Israel, as Israel did on Hamas in Gaza, would Iran be justified?

One could argue that the Hamas attack was a "preemptive strike" on Israel...

I’m totally on the side of the Iranians dressed in green walking their pet dogs in the street, going to bars and wearing what they want.

May we all live to see it.

(Nonetheless, technically this attack does not meet the Lutheran criteria for a just war.)

Are Trump & Netanyahu just saving face for Trump by saying he was informed? I can’t imagine they trusted him with any details. And now Trump is nattering about still making a deal. For what? A promise they won’t rebuild the facilities that were bombed? Is Trump trying to extort something from them in exchange for stopping more Israeli attacks?

[quote]So, if Iran goes batshit on Israel, as Israel did on Hamas in Gaza, would Iran be justified? One could argue that the Hamas attack was a "preemptive strike" on Israel...

Israel have attacked the military and nuclear targets.

Palestinians/Hamas attacked residential areas, tortured and murdered children in front of their parents, raped and butchered young people at a music festival and kidnapped 250 people including children.

The two are not comparable.

Nobody tells Trump or any of his cabal ANYTHING that they don’t want blabbed hither and yon.

Exactly R198 and the parallel to Russia vs Ukraine is a strong one in terms of intended targets and levels of evil/malevolence behind the attacks.

Donald Trump on Friday put the United States firmly in Israel’s corner after Israeli forces attacked Iranian nuclear sites and conducted targeted strikes on Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists, warning Iranian officials that they should come back to the negotiating table with him before more Israeli strikes hit with devastating effect.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said he’d given Tehran “chance after chance to make a deal” that would have headed off the strikes by putting restrictions on the country’s nuclear weapons program and complained that Iranian negotiators had never been able to come to an agreement.

“I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to ‘just do it,’ but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done,” he wrote. Trump also said he’d warned Iran that Israel “has a lot” of American-made military hardware — “the best and most lethal” — and is quite proficient in using it.

“Certain Iranian hardliner’s spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!” he added.

Continuing, Trump said there was “still time” for Iranian officials to make the “slaughter” by Israeli forces “come to an end” before “even more brutal attacks” come next.

“Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” he said.

In a separate post, Trump said he’d previously given Tehran a “60 day ultimatum to ‘make a deal’” and claimed that the strikes by Israel took place on “day 61.”

“I told them what to do, but they just couldn’t get there. Now they have, perhaps, a second chance,” he said.

In a brief phone interview with The Wall Street Journal on Friday, the president elaborated on his social media post when asked if he was saying the U.S. had gotten advance warning of the strikes from Israeli officials.

"Heads-up? It wasn’t a heads-up. It was, we know what's going on,” he said.

"I told the other side, I said, you have 60 days to make the deal. On the 61st day, they attacked. Today is 61 actually, and it was a very successful attack. They should have made a deal and they still can make a deal while they have something left— they still can," he added.

Separately, the president told CNN that the Israeli attacks had been “very successful” and said the Israeli government had operated with full American support.

Still amazed to see posts attacking "Genocidal Israel" as if Iran is a neutral law abiding state.

IRAN IS HELPING KILL UKRAINIANS ON A DAILY BASIS YOU FUCKERS.

Yeah right. They probably came to him this morning, and said they'd let him take responsibility for the big explody sounds he saw on the news if he pretended they'd told him beforehand.

Dozens of ballistic missiles launched from Iran during Khomenei's address, expected to land in Israel within minutes.

There you go R195. Of course Iran is going to retaliate with everything they’ve got. That’s how wars work.

I wonder how many of these missiles Iran has left, they're basically the only way they can target Israel directly.

Couple of missiles have landed, Tel Aviv in flames.

AP live stream here.

r207 Crazy footage. You can actually see the missiles entering from the atmosphere and the Iron Dome failing to intercept some of them, leading to impact in downtown Tel Aviv.

Terrifying, but also great job by the AP cameraman.

[quote] Tel Aviv in flames

You may have oversold that a bit.

Heh, just a little. People are wondering why there's smoke but no fire.

Apparently the military HQ there was hit.

Second wave of ballistic missiles has been launched from Iran. Takes about 15 minutes to reach Israel.

Look at how the war in Gaza has gone: Netanyahu has actively worked to prevent any ceasefire or further hostage exchange. So there’s no way he would allow any real progress in negotiations between Iran and the U.S. It’s being speculated on the BBC right now that Iran’s refusal to immediately capitulate during the negotiations was seized on as the trigger for the attack. If so, that seems . . . excessive.

Seven injured in two hit sites, lots of damage. They hit at the Kiriya, which is THE military HQ.

[quote]It’s being speculated on the BBC right now that Iran’s refusal to immediately capitulate during the negotiations was seized on as the trigger for the attack.

Netanyahu said this was planned for November already, Trump then delayed his plans with his negotiation process.

Iranians call for 'crushing revenge' after unprecedented Israeli attack

This live stream from Tel Aviv is like something out of a horror movie right now.

Meanwhile, third volley has just launched from Iran.

r208 did the Iranian missiles actually make impact, or just remnants of those intercepted above? There is often damage from falling debris after failed missile attacks in Israel.

217, looking at images right now, it really looks like a missile has hit a building.

r217 Yes, there were actual impacts. 150 ballistic missiles have been launched so far, with around 10 impacts reported in Central Israel.

Iran has about a thousand of these, but can only launch them in waves of a hundred or so at a time. They'd launch them all at once if they could, they'd inflict incredible damage to Israel that way.

Tel Aviv life in flames? Not so much.

perhaps Israel should finish off Irans ability to make ballistic missiles. is that too precise? require too much collateral damage.

fuck those mullahs. fuck Israel too, by the way.

r221 She's fine, she sends her love!

Third wave officially inbound, eyes on the stream again I guess.

Defense Minister Israel Katz:

[quote]Iran crossed red lines when it dared to fire missiles at civilian population centers in Israel. We will continue to protect the citizens of Israel and ensure that the Ayatollah regime pays a very heavy price for its criminal actions. The Prime Minister will soon conduct an assessment of the situation in the underground bunker.

R103 this is so awful.

[quote]Tel Aviv life in flames?

Okay, the third wave claim was bogus, seems to be over for now. Israel's gonna fuck them up good for this.

What flag colour symbolises underwhelming response?

r229 I mean, it's just hilarious. Symbols are all they have left at this point.

Israeli jets now heading to Iran to retaliate.

[quote]“Security officials: Iran has crossed the red line, we will begin attacking state infrastructure and regime targets in Iran.”

What a fucking mess this is going to be.

Yeah, Iran's response was pretty tepid, I bet they were praying to Allah for all their missiles to be intercepted. But they weren't and now the real pain begins.

[quote]Netanyahu addressed the Iranian people in a statement today, saying his fight is not against them, but against the Islamic regime. Netanyahu warned Iranians that "more is on the way" in terms of airstrikes and urged the public to revolt against their government, which he called oppressive.

[quote]"The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker," he said. "This is your opportunity to stand up and let your voices be heard." The prime minister also repeated a slogan often heard from those protesting Iran's regime: "Woman, Life, Freedom. Zan, Zendegi, Azadi."

In these chaotic times, it helps me to remember that humans will never lean fully into rationality, equity and peace. Sadly, men will always choose violence over peace, chaos over calm, competition over cooperation, capitalism over socialism, because they always want the chance to conquer and control someone else. Always.

It seems that Trump’s only gambit with Iran is “Let’s Make a Deal.” I would have preferred Monty Hall to be President.

[quote]I would have preferred Monty Hall to be President

Joanna Gleason, First Daughter

Just ten hits?

CNN reported a while back that Israel may force a regime change in Iran. If only. That would be win for Iran, too.

I mean, fuck Netenyahu, but he wasn't wrong in his statement to Iranians--now would be the perfect time for them to effectively revolt. This is their window. I really hope they take it.

Ukrainians have been cheering on Israel for the last two days on telegram. Iran has been one of Russia's biggest sponsors in the war. This is very good news for Zelenskyy.

Also, western countries are doing more than being secretly being grateful for Israel's strikes. The reason this was approved was because it immediately followed a report from the IAEA that basically said it's now or never. If Israel held off any longer it could be too late to prevent nuclear proliferation in Iran. The whole of the west and much of the ME is sighing a breath of relief that they didn't have to be the ones to do this themselves.

"The global nuclear watchdog's board of governors has formally declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in 20 years. Nineteen of the 35 countries on the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) voted for the motion, which was backed by the US, UK, France and Germany.

"It says Iran's "many failures" to provide the IAEA with full answers about its undeclared nuclear material and activities constitutes non-compliance. It also expresses concern about Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium, which can be used to make reactor fuel but also nuclear weapons. Iran condemned the resolution as "political" and said it would open a new enrichment facility.

"It follows a report from the IAEA last week which criticised Iran's "general lack of co-operation" and said it had enough uranium enriched to 60% purity, near weapons grade, to potentially make nine nuclear bombs.

[quote] I mean, fuck Netenyahu, but he wasn't wrong in his statement to Iranians--now would be the perfect time for them to effectively revolt. This is their window. I really hope they take it.

To be followed, I would hope, in the Israelis revolting against their extreme right-wing government.

if they bomb uranium enrichment sites, doesn't this create vast radioactive pollution?

One can hope R242. Bibi should be in prison, not power.

R243 That's a very good question. Does anyone here know the answer to that?

R243, R245 That's been a concern. I've read from multiple sources that the IAEA has said that there has been no increase in radiation levels so far.

R246, Israel seems to have avoided hitting the likely location of Iran's enriched uranium. It hit laboratories, but not the uranium itself, possibly to avoided spilling radioactive material.

Israel did, however, manage to kill Iran's chief nuclear negotiator.

its the uranium constantly spinning IN the laboratories.

UN ambassador says 47 killed, 270 wounded in Israeli attacks on Iran.

Iran puts the death toll at 78.

*

Welp. This is some bad shit, y'all. So, like, Iran supplies weapons and military hardware to Russia so they can keep fighting Ukraine. And the USA supplies military hardware and weapons, to Israel along with a shit ton of $$$$. Which is why Trump jumped up immediately to claim he had nothing to do with the attack Israel whupped Iran with. Iran doesn't believe for one second that we didn't authorize it or that we didn't know. And more of Iranian leadership was killed too. So. Donnie better make sure his bunker is supplied with enough frozen big Macs and cases of Coca Cola and Ketchup and fries and Chocolate cake, because things are about to get real. And did you know Iran tried to assassinate Donnie a wile ago?

R251 Just what exactly do you think Iran has the capability to do to America in retaliation?

R252, Iran apparently has terror cells all over the world, including in the US.

I believe if Putin greenlights them, the Iranians might make other assassination attempts or various attacks on our country. Whoever thought Afghanistan and the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden would fuck us up?

It's awful, but honestly, if they took out some of the cunts in the Trump Cult, I wouldn't give a flying fuck. I'm not saying it's a good idea, and could lead to bigger problems for the whole world, but really, if they killed some cunts cunting for Trump, I wouldn't feel anything but a dull, well, wonder where this will lead.

Iran doesn't have the HUMINT capacity to pull any of that off. Their intelligence agencies have nothing on Mossad.

The BBC's Hugo Bachega is reporting from Jerusalem in a white t-shirt that looks a bit grubby. Nice arms though.

The only way Iran could ever truly hurt America is if they were able to develop a small suit case type of nuke bomb or similar .. A few car bombs or killings would not be enough they would need a nuke or two. Or Ebola outbreaks starting in weho.

R258 - are you really quite stupid?

Iran has ALREADY hurt America. They orchestrated October7th which ultimately led to massive splits in the Democrats which helped Trump's election.

Yes there are lots of other things which helped that but you think the "Globalise the Intifada" protests helped the Democrats?

It always amazes me that none of the other Middle Eastern countries have much to say when either the Palestinians or the Iranians are attacked. I think they all realize the importance of neutralizing these countries for the stability of the region - they just can't be the ones to do it. A weaker Iran is better for the world. And by extension a weaker Russia is much better for the world.

R259 the Democratic Party has been split and fighting since forever. That’s what Dems do. If Dems want to split over an Iran issue then that’s on the fucking Dems. I don’t blame Iran because progressives will go nuts.

Besides who possibly thinks the Dems won’t split more. And again. No having a wacko Dem party , split over many things including the trans, was not what I was thinking about

More like dead bodies in the street.

And why the “stupid” you don’t talk to people in the street like that because they would kick your ass.

Do you think we should bomb Iran ourselves because Dems have become split?

R260 This is especially true regarding Iran. Iran's Middle Eastern allies mainly consist of factions and not actual countries. The Arabian Gulf countries are breathing a sigh of relief.

Yeah, no one in that region can stand Iran. And it's not just about the Shia–Sunni divide either, the Arab-Persian rivalry goes back a long time as well.

I don’t think terrorist attacks by Iran on American soil are going to split Democrats. I wouldn’t worry about that.

A lot of Iran’s power is in what it could do. If it no longer has nuclear capabilities and it uses all of its 2,000 ballistic missiles killing a handful of people in Israel and it activates all of its terrorist sleeper cells in the US and Europe; killing dozens, destroying infrastructure and uniting civilian populations in opposition to the mullahs; they’ll really and truly have no cards left to play.

The regime is cracking down, now arresting people for taking footage of the bombings.

[quote]Iran has arrested five people in central city of Yazd for taking pictures and "collaborating with Israel", Iranian news sites reported on Saturday.

As one Iranian expert said, if they start bombing and destroying infrastructure, oil, electric, water, protests and riots against the govt of Iran will soon follow. This could indeed lead to a major change in leadership and a freeing of the good people of Iran,

The Iran govt has no good options left.

Decades from now at US military academies they will be discussing and learning from this brilliant attack .

Refineries now getting hit.

[quote]The US covertly shipped about 300 AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles to Israel on Tuesday, two US officials told Middle East Eye, confirming that Washington had advance knowledge of Jerusalem’s plan to strike Iranian nuclear and military targets early Friday. The same officials said US ground-based air-defence assets later helped Israel intercept more than 150 Iranian ballistic missiles fired in response.

American taxpayer dollars at work, though this is one investment I can 100% get behind.

[quote]protests and riots against the govt of Iran will soon follow. This could indeed lead to a major change in leadership and a freeing of the good people of Iran,

r266 I don't know, there are mixed reports about the regime cutting internet access in the country, which makes it that much harder to organise. Plus, they have set up inspection points at entrances to major cities, monitoring any movement. They have been resisting an uprising for decades, they are VERY good at this. I wouldn't put my money on regime change, personally.

America knew nothing about the attack?

The pizza man suggests otherwise. Hs pizza place is near the pentagon. An unusual rush on pizza orders right before the attack.

As I think they said in All the Presidents Men—-follow the pizza orders,

I really don't care, do you?

Iranian terror cells?

The Nazis also had terror intel cells in the US and UK during the war. They could have been very deadly if the FBI and the Brits did not know who they all were.

I’d b doubtful about Iran sleeper terror cells in the US being a major problem. A problem yes but not a major one.

[quote]if they bomb uranium enrichment sites, doesn't this create vast radioactive pollution?

[quote]R243, R245 That's been a concern. I've read from multiple sources that the IAEA has said that there has been no increase in radiation levels so far.

[quote]IAEA Says Radiation Levels Remain Unchanged at Iran’s Natanz. IAEA Says Radiation Levels Within Plant Are Manageable

IAEA is a credible source at this point?

How could we be so unprepared, how could we have misjudged so badly, why could we not stop them, why is our senior military now so dead, why are our leaders so incompetent?

These are the question the Officers of Irans military are asking today. While the Supreme Leader is off hiding

It’s not the generals usually that lead the revolts against their own govts it’s often the col s and majors.

The Ayatollah is currently hiding in the bunkerest of bunkers that have ever bunkered. No bunker buster or nuke of either Israeli or American design can reach him there. Doubt he'll come out anytime soon either.

So yeah, the change will have to come from within. I don't have much hope for that.

[quote]the IAEA has said that there has been no increase in radiation levels so far

Don't you love that term "so far"?

R274 He has to eat. His chef is a Mossad agent and so is the taster (he took the antidote).

I say this in jest, but it really wouldn't surprise me.

R274 you are saying that if a US B52 dropped a nuke on the supreme leader hiding in the bunker of all bunkers he would be ok ?

If so that is one hell of a bunker they built.

R272 "IAEA is a credible source at this point?"

I guess we'll have to wait until we hear the official report from the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran before we can know for certain. I'm sure they're more credible than the International Atomic Energy Agency.

r277 Yes, I am saying exactly that. Lots of countries have bunkers that can't be penetrated by nukes. It's really not that hard to make one either, you just dig really deep and use lots of concrete. Nukes don't really make huge craters, it's surface damage they're known for.

Iran will never financially recover from this.

R280 They will. With a regime change and support from the west to rebuild (not to mention they have among the world's largest reserves of both oil and natural gas). They will recover very quickly.

r281 I know, I was just making a Tiger King joke.

[quote]if a US B52 dropped a nuke on the supreme leader hiding in the bunker of all bunkers he would be ok ?

At that point would it even matter anymore?

And yet we have non nuke bunker busters than can go thru 200 ft of concrete. I m interested in what you are saying not arguing. I have seen pictures of what a nuke does. If they can’t neutralize the bunker of all bunkers I m really impressed.

Yeah, no one's dropping a nuke on Tehran, so you can dismiss that notion right from the start.

r284 You're not taking depth into account, just the thickness of the concrete You dig a bunker really deep down, with only a narrow lift shaft going into it, and you're pretty much safe. You build one big underground parking house, basically. Only you fill the upper levels with concrete as well, instead of leaving them empty.

They wouldn't use a nuke for that. The US has the MOAB, or GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast. It's intended use is to destroy underground bunkers and tunnels. It is unlikely that he would be safe from that and no radiation.

Mother Of All Bombs (MOAB)

Our mother of all bombs, non nuke, would be used on that deep deep nuke program built bunker built deep under a very large mountain.

I want to know if Bibi is still lying on the beach in Greece?

Here's another option. It will penetrate up to 200 feet of reinforced concrete or soil.

R290 Did Bibi fly over on Israel's "Airforce One" Wing of Zion? I know they are keeping the plane safe in Athens right now for Israel. Looks like Israel is getting more support with this than I expected they would. I get the feeling a lot of countries are relieved. Surprisingly little harsh criticism. Usually that's the first instinct when Israel is involved.

[quote]Iranian MP and retired IRGC general Mohammad Kowsari says Iran is considering closing the Strait of Hormuz.

[quote]This would block a fifth of the world’s oil and directly challenge the US Navy. The US Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, exists specifically to protect shipping in the Persian Gulf and respond to this kind of threat. Any attempt to close the strait would almost certainly trigger a US military response and could result in the destruction of Iran’s naval and coastal assets.

R292, I don't know who is enthusiastic about this. We don't live anymore in an age of rousing, decisive wars that neatly tie everything up and make the world a better place. Now, every time a government is overthrown either nothing changes or things get worse.

[quote] Iran has ALREADY hurt America. They orchestrated October7th which ultimately led to massive splits in the Democrats which helped Trump's election.

What the fuck are you talking about?

I guess Iran won’t be throwing any gays off buildings this Pride season.

[QUOTE] Iran has ALREADY hurt America. They orchestrated October7th which ultimately led to massive splits in the Democrats which helped Trump's election.

Wow this is actually.. insightful. r259 is right. I never connected the dots. R295 can’t see it, but October 7th definitely benefitted Trump. If Iran brought about October 7th, then Iran helped bring us Trump no matter how inadvertent it may have been.

R293 The Iranian government should close the Strait of Hormuz IF they want to commit suicide. They will certainly cease to be the government of Iran if they add that to the list.

I personally think they're done now anyway. I'm basing this on information from a friend that returned from Iran just before the fighting started. Another friend of hers is stuck over there right now. Both are Iranian born, but dual US/Iranian citizens. She said, among other things, that Bibi and Trump are looked at as their saviors. She's spoken to friends and family since she left and the celebrating they are having at home is not for the Iranian side. They believe they are getting ready to be rescued from the current regime.

Imagine thinking Dump is anyone’s savior, R298. They’re fucked if they do.

R299 I'm even more shocked that they think Netanyahu is their savior. I guess if you are desperate enough for long enough. They see it as a means to an end. I quite frankly think we all (Iran, Israel and the US) could use a regime change.

Well it has always been true, The Enemy of My Enemy is my Friend. So I could see how the Iranians could be rooting for Trump or Bibi now. This would make what R259 has to null and void, because it no way would Iran want to usher in an age of Trump.

Dump’s probably already got golf course and hotel renderings for Trump Iran.

This is what happens when you put idiots in charge.

Trump was already dealing/money laundering with the revolutionary guard in Baku Azerbaijan.

(Which makes me wonder if non-ideological, but corrupt revolutionary guard members made a deal with super corrupt Bibi)

[quote]The Israeli army announces that the chiefs of Iran's military intelligence and the IRGC's ballistic missile array were killed in recent strikes. In all, some 20 top military Iranian commanders have been killed since Israel launched its operation against Iran on Friday.

How long do we think it's going to take for the Iranian regime to topple? Someone should put up a poll (I don't know how). I'm now thinking it's going to be much sooner than I originally thought.

Yes we live in a world where Trump is getting more not less popular. Not good news for the Dems.

It's official: ten Iranian missiles penetrated Israel's defence systems in last night's barrage. Three people have died, dozens were injured – seven of those soldiers.

Meanwhile, the IDF announces it has achieved aerial superiority from Western Iran to Tehran.

r307 I just can't see how that would happen, what with all these controls the regime has in place. The police and the military are firmly behind it.

Did everyone from Greta's Freedom Flotilla get safely deported before the fighting started? Otherwise, they're stuck in Tel Aviv for a while. No flights in or out of Israel right now. They had to cancel the Pride Parade but maybe there are still some Pride Month parties they can go to.

Absolutely NO ONE should be giving Trump any credit for this. At the very most, he was given a head's up immediately before the operation, but his administration had no part in organizing it apart from supplying some missiles. Mossad had been aware of these uranium stores for some time now and was simply holding off until they were given confirmation from the IAEA. An operation this strategic would have been over a year in the works.

Fox News and MAGA and mostly Trump himself will give him credit. Bibi will also let him gloat. He knows how to manipulate Trump. One big difference between Trump and Bibi is that Bibi isn't stupid.

[quote]An operation this strategic would have been over a year in the works.

More like decades, but the directive to carry out an actual operation was given in November, per Netanyahu's statement yesterday. He then chose a date (April) but got delayed for unspecified reasons (i.e. Trump wanting to try more negotiations).

[quote]Absolutely NO ONE should be giving Trump any credit for this.

Of course that's true, but if the Iranian regime does topple on his watch, he'll sadly get the credit for it. That's just how it works. And it'll be seen as the single greatest foreign policy accomplishment since Roosevelt fucked up the Nazis.

The mainstream media wasted no time getting on to manufacture consent for the US to go to war with Iran. This is Iraq all over, WMD and all. Of course the American people are stupid enough to fall for it again.

R316 The only similarity with Iraq and Iran is that both countries begin with an "I" when written in English.

Avner Netanyahu’s wedding, set for Monday, has been cancelled. It is believed by some that Israel used that event – among many other things, of course – to lull Iran into thinking an attack wouldn't happen this week.

DL will implode when Melania is proclaimed honorary princess of the newly restored Persian empire.

[quote]Well it has always been true, The Enemy of My Enemy is my Friend. So I could see how the Iranians could be rooting for Trump or Bibi now. This would make what [R259] has to null and void, because it no way would Iran want to usher in an age of Trump.

The Iranian regime wants chaos in a weakened west. Trump is part of that. Russia is part of that. The refugee crisis in Europe is part of that.

Yes Trump is getting more not less popular. The why , the should , the crying of unfairness , is not the issue and is not going to help.

And if Iran does fall it will be under trumps admin not the Dems.

It’s a day for a military parade and bad news for progressive democrats who once again are totally out of step with the country they live in. JHC some progressive dems on DL have been advocating for Iran to have nukes.

Anything Iran touches dies. Just look at what its proxies look like – Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen...

Them having their cock cleaned has been a long time coming. Payback for Carter's October surprise, if nothing else.

As long as iz honorary r319, and not expected to do anyting. Agreed?

[Quote] The Iranian regime wants chaos in a weakened west. Trump is part of that. Russia is part of that. The refugee crisis in Europe is part of that.

All the fault of the Iranians. They also caused Covid, the 2005 tsunami and the cancellation of “Evil” on Paramount.

Is there seriously a Datalounger who posts as "Ziono"?

r325 DL is a magical place.

[Quote]Yes Trump is getting more not less popular.

There is ZERO evidence of this.

R325 I think some people use that as a pejorative for Zionist. Like using the N-word. That is, if they don't mess up and just say Jew.

R328, nothing is "like" the N-word.

R329 OK, then like the F-word.

[quote]Yes Trump is getting more not less popular

Let's wait for the turn-out and reviews for his Great Dictator moment, plus of course the No Kings impact. The numbers for which latter are not negligible.

R271 Historically, I’d agree with you. But today, with the CIA & FBI being Doge’d and refocused on deporting gardeners and housekeepers, do they still have their eye on the ball when it comes to Iranian sleeper cells?

Bibi sounds optimistic.

[quote]"We have indications that senior leaders in Iran are already packing their bags. They sense what's coming," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message.

China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, spoke to both his Israeli and Iranian counterparts on Saturday, according to a statement from Beijing’s foreign ministry.

Wang told Iran’s Abbas Araghchi that China would support Tehran in “defending its legitimate rights and interests”, the ministry said, while he told the Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, that Beijing opposed Israel’s actions of “attacking Iran with force”, the statements said.

-----------------------------------------------

China also deployed two aircraft carriers out to sea.

----------------------------------------

If Iran falls quickly, the Chinese will beat a hasty retreat.

Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan has told Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman that Israel’s attack on Iran demonstrated that Benjamin Netanyahu’s threat was the greatest threat to regional stability, according to Erdogan’s office.

In a phone call on Saturday, Erdogan told bin Salman that Israel must be stopped to reduce tensions that that the nuclear dispute could only be resolved through negotiations.

A potentially devastating war could create waves of irregular migration to all countries in the region, Erdogan also said, according to the statement.

----------------

Nothing statement.

r335 He had to say something for the domestic audience, he knows the Saudis are gleefully watching Iran getting fucked up.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi in a phone call on Saturday that Moscow condemns Israel’s use of force against Iran and is ready to help de-escalate the situation in the Middle East.

Russia is prepared to continue to work to resolve issues surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Iran and Israel traded missiles and airstrikes on Saturday, the day after Israel launched a sweeping air offensive against its old enemy, killing commanders and scientists and bombing nuclear sites in a stated bid to stop it building an atomic weapon.

Lavrov expressed his condolences to Araghchi for the Iranians killed in the strikes, the statement said.

---------------------------------

Another nothing statement.

At 10.02 EDT you can see Israel's attacks on a map.

I wonder how much this will cause the US.

r337 No one except the US is getting anywhere near this shitshow, so these statements by foreign heads are meaningless.

The only actors that matter here are Israel, Iran, and the US.

R332 I doubt that many cia or fbi have been detailed and assigned to ICE. I for one think that the worry about Iranian killer cells in the US is over blown. But then I was wrong about Joe and then wrong about Harris so I may not be the best to judge,

From the Israeli media:

- Regime change is not an official goal, but "all options are on the table".

- The next few days will be "challenging" for the Israeli public.

- Cabinet members were informed (before the war) that the number fatalities in Israel is expected to be between 800 - 4000. Will possibly be much lower considering the success of the first strike.

- War is expected to last from 2 to 3 weeks.

Yeah, r340, wrong again!

[Quote] Is there seriously a Datalounger who posts as "Ziono"?

Is there seriously a datalounger who is pressed by that?

[quote] There is just no substitute for intelligent planning/strategy, and that remains Israel's strength.

Those people have always been very clever and crafty.

We preferred him when he posted as "Pazuzu"

You fuck with the Jews and you find out. When they say Never Again they mean Never Again.

R342 thanks for the correction and update. It’s DL most of us are wrong most of the time.

Thanks again

I still doubt FBI or CIA who are involved with tracking Iran killer squads are now pulled off to find some poor landscaper. Most FBI have nothing remotely to do with tracking Iran killer squads.

So I feel comfortable that there are still professionals at work

R346 we did not even fuck with them , we thought we were even friends, and they blew me and my friends to shit, Staffing runs one after another..

You are wildly naive about the new regime r347. Fucking with professionals is pretty much the basis of what the Trump Cult is all about. Part of it is just dicking around for the sake of dicking around and to prove loyalty to Dear Leader. I wouldn't trust a damn thing in Kash Patel's FBI.

[quote]Israeli senior official: Trump told Netanyahu he would take action in Fordow "if necessary".

[quote]Fordow is the most problematic nuclear facility which is located 80-90 meters underground, and is where the Iranians allegedly store most of the enriched uranium they have processed so far.

R349 are you an insider? Or just another DL with an opinion?

just another DLer paying attention r351.

I just got off the phone with my 24-year-old Dutch niece, who's doing a master's in "Peace and Reconcilation Studies" (yes, the irony) at Tel Aviv University. She earned her undergraduate degree in Arabic and Hebrew and wants to join the Dutch foreign service after finishing this program. I tried to be a good uncle, and I do feel genuine concern for my brother's daughter, but she told me "the media always exaggerate everything." It was a "We're fine, we send our love!" kind of conversation. Odd, considering that she's been in Israel since August 2024 and has spent a good chunk of that time in bomb shelters.

r353 The constant air raid sirens and fleeing to the bomb shelters seems so alien to us, but you probably get used to it fairly quickly when you live there. It just becomes part of your life, which is pretty sad for the only Jewish state in the world. Which of the 55 majority-Muslim countries have to live like that? Not one.

Knowing your military can own that entire region and has ironclad backing from the US helps with the peace of mind as well, I'm sure.

R353 when you spend months in a somewhat dangerous area you quickly adjust to what’s really scary and what’s another day ending in Y

Trust your niece on this one she knows the difference by now

[Quote] it’s always been the informed wisdom that only the US had the artillery to materially affect Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

What?

First of all, “artillery” isn’t being used, obviously. The attacks on Iran are being delivered by aircraft and drones. No artillery has been involved.

If you mean “ordinance,” also not true. Israel has access to a bulk array of bunker busters and deep penetrators.

^^^ full array

r351, we've all seen what's going on, it's not inside information. We've seen the mass firings of qualified people and the new hiring guidelines that are meant to politicize the civil service. And that doesn't begin to address the appointment of unqualified clowns such as Patel, Noem and Kennedy.

From Tom Friedman's column:

[quote] It is far too early, and the possible outcomes so multifold, to say how the Middle East game of nations will be changed by the Israel-Iran conflict of 2025. All I would say now is that the extreme upside possibility (that this puts in motion a set of falling dominoes, ending with the toppling of the Iranian regime and its replacement by a more decent, secular and consensual one) and the extreme downside possibility (that it sets the whole region on fire and sucks in the United States) are both on the table.

[quote] Between these extremes still lies a middle-ground possibility — a negotiated solution — but not for long. President Trump has deftly used the Israeli attack to, in effect, say to the Iranians: “I am still ready to negotiate a peaceful end to your nuclear program and you might want to go there fast — because my friend Bibi is C-R-A-Z-Y. I am waiting for your call.”

[quote] One of the things that has always struck me about Netanyahu is his strategic acumen as a player in the regional theater and his strategic incompetence as a local player vis-à-vis the Palestinians. It is because as a regional player his mind is for the most part unencumbered by ideological and political constraints. But as a local player in Gaza, for instance, his decision-making is not just influenced by, but dominated by, his personal political survival needs, his ideological commitment to preventing a Palestinian state under any condition and his dependence on the crazy right in Israel to stay in power. He has therefore mired the Israeli Army in the quicksand of Gaza — a moral, economic and strategic disaster — with no plan for how to get out.

[quote] If you are asking yourself how this conflict might affect your retirement investments, the thing to watch most closely is whether Iran tries to destabilize the Trump administration by taking actions to deliberately drive the price of oil into the stratosphere — and create inflation in the West. For instance, Iran could sink a couple of oil or gas tankers in the Strait of Hormuz or fill it with sea mines, effectively blockading oil and gas exports. Just that prospect is already pushing up oil prices.

[quote] If Israel fails in this endeavor — and by failure I mean this Iranian regime is wounded but is still able to reconstitute its ability to build a nuclear weapon and try to control Arab capitals — it could mean a war of attrition between the two most powerful militaries in the region. This would make the region even more unstable than ever, spiking oil crises and possibly prompting Iran to lash out and attack pro-America Arab regimes and U.S. forces in the area. That would leave the Trump administration no choice but to jump in, probably with the goal of not just ending that war but ending this Iranian regime. Then who knows what would happen.

R359, Tom Friedman was relentlessly and completely wrong about the Iraqi war. Let's see if we can't "help" another country by reducing it to smoking rubble. And, if you are worried about your investments, currently it's Israel who is targeting oil refineries.

Iran state media promising a devastating attack within hours. I have to go to bed now, hope I don't wake up to news of Tel Aviv IN FLAMES.

R360, so true. I can't believe he even still has a column, let alone readers. He fucking lied through his teeth like so many in the MSM did in the lead up to that travesty of a war. Ditto Afghanistan.

How does it work in these modern wars where one side has a significant Air Force and lots of bombs and the other side has lost its anti air defenses?

That sounds like a potential blood bath or a turkey shoot.

They always say that bullshit, R61. Go to bed and have a peaceful rest. Tel Aviv ain't going nowhere.

[quote] Tom Friedman was relentlessly and completely wrong about the Iraqi war.

We know!

R363, these things are best thought of as highly efficient ways damage the environment and waste money. Remember what the “war on terror” cost? About $6 to 8 trillion.

[quote] It just becomes part of your life, which is pretty sad for the only Jewish state in the world. Which of the 55 majority-Muslim countries have to live like that? Not one.

Palestinians probably R354.

^^^By choice.

R292, just thought if his son can lie on the beach in Florida, surely Bibi could pull on his Speedos in Greece!

Bibi was naked in Greece?

I saw him several years ago in Central Park, clothed, of course. He was very pear shaped then. I was very surprised.

A flamboyant former co-worker of mine admitted to lusting after Bibi for 30 years. He was so embarrassed about it, because he despised him as a person. He was so torn! He'd also be horrified by the "pear shaped" report, R370. Way too much good food and stress eating for Bibi. Bib's a man who always looks after his own needs!

That Michelin man is also named Bib.

Bibi was hot when he was in 20s.

It must be so hard for talented, relatively young, progressive and secular Israeli politicians to reach those highest echelons of power. They've had only these dinosaurs for years. Bibi was PM in 1996! He's a Thatcher-era, Reagan-era politician and is still around.

R353 We have a young friend working on his masters at Tel Aviv University. I think it’s something about security and diplomacy. He wants to eventually work at the American Embassy in Israel.

The liberation of Iran and the dismantling of the Islamic Republic could have massive implications for Muslims globally. I wonder what they could be?

r376 None. The only countries with the majority Shia population beside Iran are Iraq, Azerbaijan and Bahrain. And even those three don't give a shit about Iran. They really are all alone, and that's by their own design.

It could have some implications for their proxies, but those have been largely dismantled by now. The Houthis are the only ones that persist and even they got struck by Israel yesterday.

[quote]Iran state media: "Khamenei VOWS to burn Israel's kaftans and melt their earrings!"

R360 Since Friedman says exactly nothing in that column, it’s hard to see how one agrees or disagrees with him there.

R379, Friedman typically writes in a bland, passive-aggressive way. He wants to seem "reasonable." But he does take a position and it's fairly extreme: he says not only that Israel's attack on Iran was completely justified but that the U.S. will have "no choice" but to intervene if the regime "is wounded but still able to reconstitute its ability to build a nuclear weapon and try to control Arab capitals." In other words, he wants the U.S. involved in regime change, and you can tell he's not very clearheaded about this because he throws in a spelling error (he means "capitols" not "capitals") and seems to think "Arab" and "Muslim" are interchangeable.

We're a few days into this and this misguided twit is saying we should get ready to fight because we have, obviously, nothing better to do.

A proponent of Obama’s nuclear deal, Friedman has been arguing for a grand deal with Saudi Arabia since soon after 10/7. One that would put Israel on a path to a two-state solution & provide it security protection. His had been a strong, consistent voice against both Trump & Netanyahu.

^^^A two state solution is no longer an option. It never really was since the palestinians and much of the islamic world wants to wipe Israel off the face of the map and kill as many Jews as possible, preferably all of them.

If Friedman really thinks a two state solution is a possibility, he's a bigger fool than I imagined. I stopped reading his column sometime during the lead up to the Iraqi war when it became obvious that he was spreading the Bush Administration lies and was practically salivating for an attack against a country that had nothing to do with 9/11. He was also a proponent, I'm sure, for the ridiculous notion of "nation building" in Afghanistan. Politicians, pundits and academics are often idiots.

Two-state solution died on 10/7, Hamas saw to that. None of us here alive will live to see that happen, nor I suspect will our nieces and nephews.

This is the full column:

Death toll from the Iranian missiles rises to 14.

Meanwhile, Israel has hit the Mashhad International Airport, which is in the north-eastern part of the country, next to the border with Turkmenistan. This is the airport that Khomenei preemptively flees to every time there are major protests in Tehran.

I hope Israel continues to avoid Iranian civilian casualties. The Iranians so hate their islamic dictatorship, they might take this opportunity to overthrow them and banish islam. They are a proud people with a rich pre-islamic history, like all the countries conquered by islam.

They're not going to banish Islam because the majority is still religious. But getting rid of the fundies might make the country look something like Turkey, before the sultan Ergodan fucked it all up. So, nominally secular, if culturally still very religious. A bit like the US pre-2024.

^^^I read that mosques are closing in Iran because most have no attendees.

Yes, but non-attendance doesn't make you irreligious. It's the same in Germany – churches dying, but self-reported irreligiosity in surveys not decreasing quite as quickly.

The Israeli Air Force reports that it is beginning a widespread campaign tonight targeting Iranian ballistic missile launchers, with dozens of sites targeted.

[quote]NBC reporter in Tehran: “People are panicked – no one thought it would get this serious” Amine Khodadadi reports chaos in the streets: explosions, sirens, blocked roads, and a population questioning the cost of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

[quote] President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan in recent days to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Sunday.

[quote]"Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we're not even talking about going after the political leadership," said one of the sources, a senior U.S. administration official.

r391 Israel says it's not true.

[quote]Top Israeli Official: Reuters Report on U.S. Veto of Khamenei Strike Is “Fake of All Fakes”

[quote]Israeli National Security Adviser: Report that Trump vetoed Khamenei assassination is untrue; there is no immunity for Iran's leaders.

It's better to keep him alive with all his underlyings wiped out as much as possible. He has a huge fucking problem on his hands, let him figure out what to do after Israel's devastating blows. Maybe the Iranian people will drive him out of his mosque and into a noose in a main square.

Weizmann Institute attacked.

Trump has wormed his way out of problems his entire life, but now he’s caught between Putin, Iran, and Netanyahu. Every bombing of Iran by Israel destroys some of Putin’s much-needed supply capability from Iran for the war with Ukraine. Trump’s feeble “Let’s Make a Deal” foreign policy isn’t going to work in this situation. I suspect the reason Trump was looking grim instead of jubilant at his parade is because deep down he knows he’s in serious trouble (Putin and Iran mad at him and Netanyahu uncontrollable) that makes his court trials seem like a walk in the park.

Indeed R395

Such a shame R394. Their finances were already getting pummeled after 10/7 and then by the mass defunding of all NIH foreign subawards.

[quote] U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on his social network Truth Social that "Iran and Israel need to reach an agreement - and they will reach an agreement. We will soon have peace between Israel and Iran. Many talks and meetings are taking place now." According to him, "I do a lot and never get credit for anything, but that's okay — the people understand. We will restore the Middle East to its greatness."

“It will be gone by Easter.”

Several direct hits today, a synagogue in the south was struck and one person was lightly injured.

Israeli media reporting the operation is now expected to last at least three weeks. They're just getting started.

Keep watching the skies..

Keep watching the skies..

!!!

[quote]Channel 14 report from Tamir Morag: A significant escalation – Israel is now actively working to destabilize the Iranian regime through a newly approved strike plan authorized by Defense Minister Katz and Prime Minister Netanyahu.

[quote]As part of the operation, regime targets in Tehran will now be attacked, accompanied by the mass evacuation of civilians from those areas as a means of applying pressure on the regime, in response to attacks on the Israeli home front. The plan is designed to trigger a mass exodus of civilians from Tehran and serves as a powerful lever of pressure on the regime – in a way that could destabilize it. In this context, Katz's statement today can be understood as a message to Khamenei: “Tehran will be treated like Beirut.”

[quote]Today, in a meeting held by the Defense Minister in the command bunker with IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and the IDF General Staff, the operational details of the plan were finalized. The IDF Spokesperson issued its first Arabic-language announcement calling on civilians to evacuate areas near weapons sites in Tehran.

[quote]A security official told Channel 14 News: “Each day the plan will intensify and produce results. Today we struck the Iranian Ministry of Defense – additional targets will be attacked soon.”

With Israel now in control of Iranian airspace it means that any missile bases can be easily found when launched and the stockpile destroyed.

Ukraine will be so pleased by this.

Wouldn’t a civilian announcement be in Farsi?

r403 Good catch! Clearly an oversight by the Israeli journo.

Here's some more info on the targets of upcoming bombings.

[quote]The Air Force has launched a wave of attacks on dozens of missile targets in western Iran. You could call it the "Blitz on Tehran," the Air Force is increasing its attacks, more than 100 targets were attacked overnight and today. Among the targets: Revolutionary Guard headquarters, air force bases, ballistic missile sites, and nuclear facilities. The attacks are aimed not only at military targets but also at government and energy targets. [bold]Israel is preparing additional levels of action – including energy facilities but also symbols of government.[/bold]

[quote]It can be cautiously said that there is a hidden goal for this war – and that is to undermine the Iranian regime from within – and create the conditions for its demise. Netanyahu refers to this tonight and says: "The regime is very weak, the freedom of the Iranian people is close". Israel believes that this can happen, even if not in the near term – then in the medium and longer term.

Netanyahu, like anyone who remains in power for decades, is loopy.

From r400's link:

[quote] Iran’s supreme leader posts image of drone targeting a Trump-like golfer

Speaking of the devil, this is both juicy and terrifying.

[quote]Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was moved to an underground bunker in Lavizan in northeastern Tehran hours after Israel began its attacks on Tehran early Friday, two informed sources inside Iran told Iran International. All members of Khamenei's family including his son Mojtaba are with him, the sources said. A diplomatic source in the Middle East told Iran International that the Israeli airstrike on Mashhad [airport, see r385] was a warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader that he is not safe anywhere in the country.

[quote][bold]The diplomatic source added that Israel could have eliminated Khamenei on the first night of the operation, but the Israeli government chose to keep him alive to give him a final chance to decide on completely dismantling the Islamic Republic’s uranium enrichment program.[/bold]

Khamenei needs to meet the same fate as Gaddafi.

If they do take him out, his entire family will die in that bunker with him. Which I guess is preferable to being at the mercy of the next regime.

So many decades of lounging at the top and then it all suddenly ends, must be quite the mindfuck. And something tells me they aren't being served caviar in that bunker.

I hope all of those young Iranian women who protested against the regime are safe.

We're not getting much news from Tehran because it's nearly impossible to report from there, plus the regime has cut internet access. But just to give you a taste of what's currently happening that pertains to the capital itself: the police HQ is gone, the international airports are gone, water mains are damaged and flooding the streets, as is sewage. The oil reserve in the north of the city was taken out, which has spooked the populace into fleeing the city en masse while they can still fill up their cars. 50km (30 miles) long lines of outbound traffic are forming on highways.

Israel has complete air superiority and is now striking the city in broad daylight.

[Quote] ‘Revenge is certain’: Iran’s supreme leader posts image of drone targeting a Trump-like golfer

Hey, maybe we’ll get a windfall out of this

Remember when the regime wanted to assassinate Trump last year? I wonder if they had an Old World gipsy on call, telling them what lies ahead in their immediate future.

[quote] Remember when the regime wanted to assassinate Trump last year?

That would be the first fucking thing that country got right.

[quote] Iran’s supreme leader posts image of drone targeting a Trump-like golfer

R406 Perhaps that’s why in one of the video clips of Trump watching the parade with what looked like a worried scowl on his face, he looked up and scanned the sky for a few seconds.

[quote] Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was asked in a Fox News interview about the Reuters report claiming that U.S. President Donald Trump blocked a plan to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and responded that "there are so many false reports about conversations that never took place - and I'm not going to get into it." National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi also addressed the report, telling Keshet News it was a "fake from the land of fakes."

Bibi and his team gave “King Bone Spurs” of Fakelandia the bird.

Israel probably can't reach the bunker that the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding in without the help of the US. I imagine downplaying the idea that the US wants to go that route could be strategic. I wouldn't necessarily believe the "back and forth" on that being reported by MSM.

R417, Trump and Netanyahu are both such liars I can’t imagine they bother to talk to each other.

R418 I can’t imagine how any foreign leader can have a meaningful conversation with Trump, because he can’t string two sentences together in a logical manner. The calls probably consist of him whining, and then a member of his staff takes over the call and has the actual conversation.

According to Israel’s Channel 14, Israel plans to bomb Tehran and force a huge population displacement in hopes of causing Iran’s government to collapse. This strongly suggests that this isn’t about nukes but rather about Israel taking advantage of a weak U.S. to devastate Iran.

The world is so pissed off at Netanyahu for Gaza that they won't condemn Iran for hitting back.

R420 I am not happy about civilian lives being lost in Iran or Israel, however if the current Iranian government falls, it's as much a win for the people of Iran as it is for Israel.

Israel obviously had to cancel the Pride Parade in Tel Aviv. I imagine they must have canceled the one in Tehran, too. Like Gaza, their's was expected to be about 12 stories high.

Four Iranian missiles hit in central Israel. 67 wounded, 3 dead. I'm sure the numbers will increase throughout the day.

So Iran is not quite on its last legs just yet.

[quote]This strongly suggests that this isn’t about nukes but rather about Israel taking advantage of a weak U.S. to devastate Iran.

I mean, it can be about both. You demolish their nuclear programme and while you're at it, you beat the absolute shit out of the regime. Because even if the regime isn't toppled, Israel now has a better starting position in any future nuclear negotiations with Iran.

Also, this isn't coming out of nowhere. They've been systematically dismantling Iranian proxies one by one since 10/7 and now it's time for the source of all that terror funding. It would have happened under any president.

[quote] Fuck.

So articulate, OP.

[quote]IDF air force jets struck the headquarters of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Tehran on Monday after a massive Iranian missile strike on Israel. The IDF said the IRGC Quds force was where terror attacks against Israel, to be carried out by Iran's proxies, were planned.

Alright, I'm not here for you, baby cunt.

That guy said Iran was behind 2 assassination plots to kill orange turd

R422, it isn’t unless there’s an acceptable (non-Shah) government to replace it and massive investment to support it. If it’s just overthrowing the government, you get Purge-level chaos.

There's rarely an acceptable government just standing by somewhere, ready to replace the old regime after it gets toppled. Revolutions and coups are always a gamble. And even when nation-building is undertaken by a superpower – like in Iraq and Afghanistan, or indeed Iran with the Shah – you can still end up with a lemon in the end.

I'm hoping for the best, but could easily see Iran with the exact same arrangement in place this time next year. Just, you know, ruined militarily.

[quote]U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on his social network Truth Social...,"I do a lot and never get credit for anything, but that's okay — the people understand. We will restore the Middle East to its greatness."

[quote]Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was asked in a Fox News interview about the Reuters report claiming that U.S. President Donald Trump blocked a plan to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and responded that "there are so many false reports about conversations that never took place - and I'm not going to get into it." National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi also addressed the report, telling Keshet News it was a "fake from the land of fakes."

Looks like that credit Trump yearns for is a distant prospect. It's unlikely his supposed killing veto will have the intended effect of reciprocal lenience.

Why does Trump sound like Netanyahu’s mother in that quote?

[quote]A very senior official in Israel says "We will issue evacuation orders, evacuate the population in Tehran, demolish buildings and symbols of government and regime..." The actions expected in Tehran today will be extremely dramatic.

The most surreal footage I've seen in ages.

Israel issues a Gaza-like evacuation order in friggin' Tehran. Imagine something like this even a week ago.

[quote]IDF Persian spokesperson, Reserve Master Sergeant Kamal Pinhasi, issued a warning to citizens of the capital Tehran to evacuate according to a map he published. In his message, he stated: "Urgent warning to workers and those staying in District 3 in Tehran. In the coming hours, the IDF will operate in the area, as it has operated in recent days throughout Tehran, to strike military infrastructure of the Iranian regime. Dear citizens, for your security and well-being, we ask you to evacuate immediately from the marked area in District 3, according to the map. Your presence in this area endangers your lives."

Around 300k people live in that district. Lots of Iranian state TV buildings and transmitters there.

[quote]BREAKING: Iran signals it wants to de-escalate hostilities with Israel and negotiate

[quote]According to Wall Street Journal, Iran has reached out to both US and Israel and is open to negotiation.

Oil down 5%, that offer must have been genuine.

[quote]A senior Iranian diplomat stated in an exclusive interview with the Iranian media network "iranwire" that the regime is willing to give up uranium enrichment as part of a solution that would preserve its dignity, in order to preserve the regime. The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity and previously served in Iranian intelligence services, defined the survival of the regime as a top priority for the Supreme Leader and the government.

Israel went after all their proxies. Now it's going after the monster itself. And it seems serious about getting the job does this time. Thank goodness.

As for Trump, it's impossible to know what's true and not. Not just because Trump lies about everything, but because even an honest President would lie in this scenario. The US is definitely helping Israel out behind the scenes with things like intelligence and aerial refueling. That's obvious just by what's actually happening. So the US is not really staying as hand's off as it's claiming. Whether it has approved or rejected an Ayatollah assassination is anyone's guess, but if I had to guess, I'd say yes, and his days are numbered. But who knows.

Iran's Fox News on its way out.

[quote]Israel suggests Iran's state broadcaster will be its next target

[quote]"The Iranian propaganda and incitement mouthpiece is on its way to disappearing. Evacuation of nearby residents has begun," Israeli Defense Minister Katz said.

[quote]Iran has approached Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman to ask Trump to pressure Israel to immediately agree to a ceasefire. This was reported by Reuters from sources in the region and Iranian sources, who added that in return for the ceasefire, Iran would offer "flexibility in negotiations with the U.S. on its nuclear program."

[quote]Breaking News: moments ago, the Islamic Republic’s state broadcaster IRIB was hit. During a live broadcast, an explosion was heard mid-program, the screen shook, the anchor panicked and ran off-camera, and the feed cut out seconds later.

Propaganda bitch bombed live while threatening Israel, LOL!

[quote] Iran's Fox News on its way out.

Hoping for a trend...

They're saying this was probably just a roof knocker and the actual bomb will land a bit later, when those who ignored the initial evacuation order have left the building.

Well, it's gone, just like that.

[quote]Iran’s state broadcaster, IRIB, reports that its main headquarters and other offices in Tehran have been destroyed in an Israeli Air Force strike, with several staff members killed in the attack.

to the degree Iran has to fight off Israel's aggression, they, of necessity are limited in what they can do for Putin in Ukraine.

When all the ayatollahs and all the mollahs are going to run for their lives to Daddy Putin, please remember that Zelenskyy preferred to stay and stand up for his people anc compare the characters.

There’s something fishy going on on this thread with the amount of quoted text being posted in comments from “articles” with no links being provided to said articles.

R446, R442, R440, R438 etc where are you sourcing this info? I copy pasted some of your text and google searched it and got results, where is it coming from?

I'm not posting links because I don't want to clog up the thread with link previews. I'm posting news from the worldnews subreddit when it becomes official, they have strict rules about veracity over there. I'm staying away from rumours, unconfirmed reports, and now also from Israel's Channel 14 because I've been informed it's ass.

There's no conspiracy here, if that's what you're implying. (Imagine me channelling Shohreh Aghdashloo in that one Will&Grace episode as I'm saying that.)

[Quote] Israel went after all their proxies. Now it's going after the monster itself.

Oh, it’s attacking itself?

Trump at the G7 meeting confirms Iran is begging for a ceasefire. Refuses to say if the US will get involved.

[quote]"Yeah," Iran is backchanneling to US, Trump tells reporters in Canada. "They'd like to talk but they should have done that before," he said. "Iran is not winning this war."

Israel hits Iranian state TV as it's on air

I would be scared shitless if I worked at Technion or the Weitzmann. They are in the crosshairs.

R450 I don’t think anyone minds links, gives more context. Maybe you could post them after your smoke break Pam? ;)

I keep my link previews turned off.

Is this what it takes for Iran to become more secular (Shah - SAVAK)?

Has Shohreh Ashdagloo narrated any audiobooks? I LOVE her

r458 She has!

[quote]Iranian state-run media: “We are about to launch a very large attack against Israel, the largest and most violent missile attack in history on Israeli territory."

Missiles are now en route to Israel as I type.

USS Nimitz rushing to the Middle East to join USS Carl Vinsson.

[quote]CNN: Two US Navy ships intercepted missiles in defense of Israel at least twice over the weekend, the official said.

The main reason the United States has this unreserved dedication to Israel .....is geography. Period. It's not sentiment though many believe it is, it's geography.

r462 I don't know, I think religion plays a part as well. And not in the "crazy fundies want to usher in the Armageddon" way, but simply that America prefers the Holy City to be in the hands of the Jews, rather than the Muslims. The West won't allow another Constantinople to happen if it can help it.

R420 seems to think that destroying Iran's leadership won’t out a stop to their nuke development program?

Just do it, rip that damn band-aid off and release the pus, this shit's been festering for forty years now.

[quote]The killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei "is not going to escalate the conflict, it's going to end the conflict," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told ABC News. Asked if Israel would indeed target him, Netanyahu said that Israel was "doing what we need to do."

R464, no one has plausibly claimed that Iran can be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons, only that the development can be delayed, perhaps by a few years.

R466 Do you have a link to either a senior US or Israeli official making the claim that an Iran nuke development program can't be stopped? Because it sure as shit can be if you have the will and own the sky's while having a modern air force,

What is left of their leadership is going to fall. This is going to be closer to Unconditional Surrender than a break or set back in nuke development.

It may take some time

A culture the encourages suicide bombers as a religious act, does not need to ever possess nuclear weapons.

Links please people. I googled one of the quoted texts above and just got sent to random twitter / instagram accounts.

It's a lot of both r462. It definitely helps to have a reliable ally in the region, but the truth is a purely geographic, oil-obsessed policy would have sacrificed Israel decades ago and focused on making deals with the Arabs, in the European way. It's clearly both policy and sentiment going on in our whole very long, very tight relationship with Israel.

That bride of satan getting bombed on live TV was the feel good video of the day. They've fucked around and have finally found out their allah is not akbar.

No matter what you think about Gaza, and I think it's long past time for Israel to stop dicking around endlessly and just stop the mindless bombing and get the fuck out, it's impossible not to appreciate the cunts in Tehran getting what they've deserved for decades. If every fucker in that regime is killed, great, no loss to the world.

OMG, that Shohreh Aghdashloo's voice is more butch than even Harvey Fierstein's. Does she mix cigarettes and Southern Comfort?

And I don't mean Iranians generally, hopefully that's obvious, I mean the people that have run that place into the ground with their dumbfuck religious fuckery since 1979.

R449 If you scroll down on this NBC News link you will find many of those cut & paste regarding the Iraninan regime now begging for a cease fire.

Wow I can’t believe the way this has turned out. Wasn’t expecting Israel to just so easily rake complete control over Iran’s skies like that. Shocking stuff. What an embarrassment for the Iranian regime. They are a lot weaker than anyone could’ve predicted.

Interesting that Israel has no civilian nuclear power plants. For security reasons?

R477 Israel has long been a leader with solar power. Even before conventional solar panels. Apartment buildings in Israel had ugly black boxes on their rooftops back the late 1970s-80s to heat water. It's much safer if missiles hit or an accident occurs.

R476 Exactly! The way things are going, this is more likely to be another 6-Day War than last 2 to 3 weeks. No matter what your opinion of Israel may be, you have to admit that their Intelligence is second to none.

[quote] Interesting that Israel has no civilian nuclear power plants. For security reasons?

Civilian as opposed to?

R476, this, so far, was very predictable. Iran has been under sanctions for years; compared to other oil-producing countries it is not wealthy. If it’s a question of bombs and missiles, it’s not going to be impressive.

If Israel pulls this off and topples the regime, does that mean it's pretty much lights out for Russia?

Trump said to evacuate Tehran. Does that mean a US strike is coming?

The only place the US should be striking is that underground Fordow uranium enrichment plant. It needs to be destroyed when this is all said and done.

R483, I don't think so; Israel will.

Which one of you bitches posted this?

I feared something terrible is going to happen in the next 24 hrs. And I have to fly into NYC.

Legendary incompetence from Iran throughout this entire spat. It makes sense now why its regional associates fell so easily. Even North Korea maintains its own sovereign borders FFS 🤦‍♂️

r487 - nothing will happen to you. Please don't cause a scene on the plane.

R488, Iran is a Third-World country whose air defenses had already been severely degraded; Israel is armed and protected by the U.S. It would be embarrassing if Israel couldn't immediately establish air supremacy.

R486 that guy makes my toes curl. Creepy loser gay supreme.

If Fordow is to be destroyed from the air, it has to be by the US. Only the US has the bomb to do it. And only the B-52 and the B-2 are prepared to carry and use it. IOW, we couldn't sell it to Israel either. Most likely, if it happens, it will be via B-2s.

Another possibility, which would have high risk of Israeli fatalities, would be to storm the facility, set up bombs inside, then detonate after leaving. That sounds crazy, but Israel did that recently in an underground Syrian missile facility. It was an extremely impressive mission where they used a motorbike inside the facility to quickly deploy the explosives. Sounds like Hollywood, but it wasn't. The difference is that facility was poorly guarded compared to what this would be. Iran would be expecting an assault and have countless soldiers defending it.

But if the regime were to be decapitated first, then maybe that could be an option...

That's great, r486. A beautiful assortment of out, gay men. Something you'd never see in a video taken in Iran. Thank you for posting.

[quote]Emmanuel Macron said Trump has made an offer for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. - CNN

R494 I read that on France 24 or BBC. How can I possibly believe what someone says that Trump says? I'll be surprised if there's a cease fire without the fall of the current government of Iran. There is just far too much invested in this now. I would trust the current Islamic Government of Iran even less than Trump (and that's saying something!).

How many ceasefires did Hamas get? And yet they used every single one of them to regroup and rearm.

No more of this nonsense, just finish the job.

Trump with a graceless bitch fit.

[quote]Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a “cease fire” between Israel and Iran. Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong. Stay Tuned!

[quote]Publicity seeking

[quote]Much bigger than that

[quote]Stay Tuned!

Because teasing and boasting in pseudo-showbiz terms when the Middle East is ablaze is certainly not seeking publicity.

R496 I agree. Best to finish the job rather than let those that have died die in vain.

R497 Trump is so inappropriate. France is a US ally and Macron is their leader.

Trump has left Calgary, is skipping Australia, and going straight to D.C. for a military meeting. Probably deciding whether to bomb Fordow or not.

Israel has the right to defend itself. Blah, blah, blah.

When is Israel the instigator instead of always the victim? The answer: Often. Iran also has the right to defend itself.

Israel does not have the right to commit genocide by starving, indiscriminately bombing and point blank killing innocent Palestinians including thousands of children. Israel does not have the right to steal land and build illegal settlements on the West Bank. But Israel does all of those things anyway. Cut off U.S. military and financial aid to Israel, and Israel will have no choice but to stop instigating war.

R500. Trump didn't want to be at the G7 meeting because the other members kicked out Russia from the group in 2014 due to Russia's illegal invasion of Crimea in Ukraine. Trump wants his boyfriend Putin there or he's taking his fat ass and going home.

[quote]Iran also has the right to defend itself.

Iran's stated official policy is the destruction of "the Zionist entity called Israel" and they have poured most of their vast oil money over the decades into their proxies in order to achieve that goal. You call that self-defence? Working overtime to destroy a country you don't even share a border with?

What if Russia decides to help Iran? It'll all be over for Israel.

Russia can't even help themselves. They're in no position to be stretching themselves even thinner and 'helping' someone else.

R504 What if Martians come down on their flying saucers?

[quote]What if Russia decides to help Iran? It'll all be over for Israel.

Seriously?

Russia have been attacking Ukraine for 3 years and have achieved none of their aims.

You think they're some kind of superpower?

R507 Not only that, but Iran is much larger geographically and by population than Ukraine. Russia literally shares a border with Ukraine and STILL hasn't won. Israel doesn't share a border with Iran and look how much Israel has accomplished in just 4 days!

Israel attacked Iran unprovoked. Iran was not making a nuclear bomb. Israel instigated this war with Iran. This is Israel's fault.

And it is Israel that is to blame for economic markets plunging. Israel is to blame for a worldwide economic collapse if oil production is interrupted and shipping is closed down in the Strait of Hormuz.

R509 Thanks for the update, Mehr News Agency.

[quote]What if Russia decides to help Iran? It'll all be over for Israel.

The fact that we are three years into the Ukraine war and some still see Russia as this superpower that can achieve anything just boggles the mind. Some people just seem to have a hardon for geographic size and don't take absolutely anything else into account, I guess.

Also, no, it's wouldn't "all be over for Israel". Not with two US airstrike carrier groups parked next to Israel. Show me Russian F35s and their aircraft carriers. You can't because they don't have any.

[quote]Israel attacked Iran unprovoked. Iran was not making a nuclear bomb. Israel instigated this war with Iran. This is Israel's fault. And it is Israel that is to blame for economic markets plunging. Israel is to blame for a worldwide economic collapse if oil production is interrupted and shipping is closed down in the Strait of Hormuz.

"Unprovoked".

LOL

It really bugs me how people keep blaming the state of Israel for everything. Just like this country, the majority of Israeli citizens are being held hostage by a corrupt Mafioso far right criminal who cheated to hold on to power.

Netanyahu is the villain. Just like Putin is the villain. A large number of Russian population are sympathetic for their relatives in Ukraine.

I say blame the leaders, not the entire country.

You can call Netanyahu what you like, the fact is he was elected in free and fair elections, just like Trump. Unlike Putin in Russia.

Sometimes you DO have to blame the population.

Israel kills Iran's top military commander for the second time (NBCnews.com)

Israel’s military said it had killed Maj. Gen. Ali Shadmani, Iran’s most senior military commander, days after killing his predecessor.

The IDF said in a statement that Shadmani was killed in an overnight strike on a staffed command center “in the heart of Tehran” amid a “sudden opportunity.”

His death “adds to a series of eliminations of Iran’s most senior military leadership and degrades the chain of command of the Iranian armed forces,” the IDF said.

There was no immediate comment from Iran.

The IDF said Shadmani commanded both the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iranian army, and was the closest figure to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He was appointed by Khamenei after the death on Friday of Maj. Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid.

Israel is playing “Whac-A-Mole” with Iran’s top military brass 😂

R514 Free and fair?????

Who's gonna tell him??

Netanyahu is deeply unpopular. More unpopular than Trump and certainly Putin (even if you think Russian polls are rigged, I'm quite sure he still has the support of the majority).

I’m hoping Trump’s return to the US means that he is authorizing the destruction of the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant. Either the US is doing it or is giving the Israeli’s the means too. That will essentially be the end of the war.

r516 You can believe what you like, but no one in the US or in Israel votes under duress, nor are the results faked. The problem isn't that elections aren't free, it's that so many just don't bother to vote, or they stay at home for the stupidest of reasons. As for fairness, the EC is another matter.

Anyway, this really isn't the thread for that, we're just clogging up the discussion.

r517 It doesn't matter if he's unpopular or not, he got elected in a legitimate way and entered into a coalition in a legitimate way as well. If people don't like him, they are free to vote for some other party at the next election.

You can't govern by opinion polls, you govern by the mandate on the day of the election. Otherwise, nothing would ever get done.

[quote]even if you think Russian polls are rigged, I'm quite sure he still has the support of the majority

I don't think anything, their polls ARE rigged, as are their elections. This is the consensus of the entire Western political community. Both their parliament and state church are for show as well, I hope that doesn't come as a shock to you.

I just find it laughable that you would trot out bogus opinion polls from an autocratic regime that hasn't had a normal election since the Iron Curtain fell, to somehow claim he has more legitimacy than Trump or Netanyahu. I mean, just stop for a fucking second and think what you're doing with your life. No offence.

I'm well acquainted with Russians, both inside and outside the country. I know their mentality very well.

R513, you can blame individual leaders for a lot, but the military knows that it represents the whole country.

R408, Israel, though, is in no position to invade and take military control of a country the size of Iran. Ostensibly, at least, Russia and Israel have very different goals.

I have Russian Jews in my family who had to hightail it out of there decades ago due to antisemitism. Now they can’t talk proudly enough about it and they’re Trump voters. They go on and on about how much better things are in Russia. I wish they’d go back.

After Bibi gets everything cleaned up, I'm hoping the much more centrist Yair Lapid (leader of the opposition) steps in. The person that I really wanted to see as PM was Tzipi Livni, but she's retired from politics. She was a center/left MP who served briefly as vice-PM. I was sad to see her go.

A question for those condemning Israel.

Had Ukraine taken military action against Russia in February 2022 and taken out their missile bases and drone factories, would that have been provocative or in defence?

R527 That would have been a preemptive strike.

I'm NOT condemning Israel. If they had waited too long, it would have been too late. How long it might have taken could be up for debate. I can't believe anyone with a brain believes their only nuclear ambition was for supplying power.

US progressives that are pro Iran nuke weapon development are an interesting group. I wonder what % of them voted last election?

Not interesting. Nasty belligerent cunts.

Tweet from the satirical Mossad account

"Iran claims they hit a Mossad base in Israel. That's OK, all of us are in Iran".

I think that the most important thing Israel/Netanyahu wants is to finish eliminating/exiling the Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank so that Israel can annex those lands. With Trump in the WH, he is finally free to do this. The Iran government is important only insofar as it provided some support for the Palestinians. Taking Iran out of the picture, even for just a few years, will be worthwhile (i.e., whatever it costs the U.S.), because by the time it re-stabilizes the Palestinians will have been brushed off like lint.

^you sound just like Hitler

[quote] . The Iran government is important only insofar as it provided some support for the Palestinians

The only meaningful support the Iranians could supply to Gaza at this point was firing rockets at Israel. Now I don't know if you've been paying attention the last few days but...

R534, there’s nothing to be done for Gaza now, but Iran was helping to arm and manage Hezbollah and Hamas. Why just remove the militias when you can remove or suppress Iran as well?

I'm gonna be posting updates here now because this thread is near its end already, in more ways than one.

I wonder if Putin could persuade Syria to help Iran, by attacking Israel.

If Trump helps Israel do Iran, that may represent a major breach with Putin. It also may put our President at risk...

536 is not near the end. Who made you hall monitor?

R8 you still feeling I overreacted by starting this thread?

I think Bibi needs a mental health intervention. His country is already despised and in turmoil while engaged in ethnic cleansing. But now he has attacked a country unprovoked.

I know he's working closely with Trump on these atrocities. Turd can't keep his mouth shut and keeps leaking secrets.

R386 I hope so too.

R451 Iran has been attacking Israel for years through their proxies, Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. Iran has said they will wipe Israel off of the map. Now is the perfect time to get rid of Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Hamas has to go. Palestinians have joined Hamas, elected it, supported it, sheltered it and funded it. Even Germans helped Jews during WWII. Israel offered 5 million plus free passage to Palestinians who returned a hostage and not one took it.

^^^and the families of dead palestinian terrorists are paid yearly and for life based on how many Jews their terrorist family member murdered.

Even the far right grifters are speaking out against the war. No one but the Zionist cuckoos have any appetite for American involvement.

Now the word is that Trump will take two weeks to decide. Hopefully that means he sees that there's no upside for him whatsoever to do Israel's bidding in that way.

U.S. attacks three Iranian nuclear sites, Trump says: Live updates

^^^Good. This should have happened years ago. These fuckers cannot have nukes.

Sleep well knowing that DHS has has staff cuts, budget freezes, requirements that any expenditure over $100k must be approved by the dog killer, and is also populated with unqualified Trump acolytes.

[Quote] You think you're smart but this is actually quite dumb and uninformed. The Trump crowd does not like foreign wars, even on behalf of Israel.

You’re eating those words now, r74. Yes, I was so “dumb and uninformed.”

Anyone else notice how anyone criticizing Israel’s bombing I’d greyed out? Obvious FF attacks by our resident ziono-cultists with multiple sockpuppet accounts … or worse.

Trump is a bad President. He is a criminal. He has violated our Constitution in so many ways so often it defies the imagination. But since Israel started this and provides the cover, dumping bombs on them may not be a bad idea. I(t was bound to happen and I'm glad this pig is the agent of Iran's demise. There are a million good reasons why he should not have. Remember, he tore up the treaty and protocols Obama had negotiated with Iran concerning it's nuclear development. He did that in his first term. If he had not, maybe Iran would not have continued to develop enriched uranium or WTF ever they were doing. I cannot believe he is doing this without a green light from Putin. It will be interesting to see how it goes.

R547 Yeah no. The last countries that should have nukes are the US (actually used them on civilians) and Israel (LOVE mass murdering civilians) and they both do. Iran hasn't and will never be as a tenth as dangerous as those two genocidal terrorist states.

R551 God, westerners are so clueless.

Since 1929, a total of around 250,000 Israelis and Palestinians combined have died in conflict with one another. Since the early 90s alone, the IRGC has executed north of 300,000 of its own citizens. It now averages between 120-190 hangings monthly. These prisoners are tortured brutally for weeks and months before their executions. Virgin women are raped before being murdered by the IRGC as a matter of policy so that they won't go to heaven. Mothers and fathers are hanged in front of their young children who are forced to watch.

Margaret Atwood based Gilead partly on the Islamic Republic's takeover after the Iranian Revolution. The punishments for women and other dissidents are straight out of the IRGC's playbook--women having one eye gauged out, fingers cut off, and the wall hangings, for instance.

One can be totally aware of and against Iran without signing on to this war.

We saw this playbook before, r552, and some apparently didn’t learn the lesson. Focus on how terribly Iraq/n treats their people, magnify the threat of weapons of mass destruction, and don’t draw too much attention to anyone’s real motives or interests.

R553 tell us how you oppose or support the actions so far because I have no idea what “ not signing on to this war” means in actual English. Especially if your signing in or not refers to your internet posting.

But referencing you know that Iran is bad does give you plenty of wiggle room no matter how this goes in the future.

Kind of a for and against at the same time argument,

[quote]Even the far right grifters are speaking out against the war. No one but the Zionist cuckoos have any appetite for American involvement. Now the word is that Trump will take two weeks to decide. Hopefully that means he sees that there's no upside for him whatsoever to do Israel's bidding in that way.

"Zionist cuckoos"?

Are you one of those people who carries signs at protests that says "Anti Zionism isn't Anti Semitism"?

[quote] Even the far right grifters are speaking out against the war

Well yeah most of them are on the Russian or Iranian parole. Hell Iranian tv was straight out broadcasting Fuentes to the nation last week

!! 🏳️‍🌈QUEERS 💕🏳️‍⚧️for Ali Hosseini KHAMENEI 🚀🥳 💣!!

REMEMBER IRAN PROVIDES STATE FUNDED GENDER AFFIRMING CARE!

[quote][R547] Yeah no. The last countries that should have nukes are the US (actually used them on civilians) and Israel (LOVE mass murdering civilians) and they both do. Iran hasn't and will never be as a tenth as dangerous as those two genocidal terrorist states.

I cant believe I'm reading this on a gay site, and there are two other insane people here that ww'd R551

Iran is where two young gay men were publically executed by hanging

That and everything R552 said

Israel and the US have their own issues for sure but nothing as grotesquely evil as this

This was last week.

Again, we’ve seen this logic before. Iranian protestors and gay men will be no better off because of this bombing. Neither Trump not Netanyahu would start a war to help these people. These posts may be heartfelt, but they are trying to manipulate emotions to support a war that is being waged for vastly different reasons.

Bullshit R561 - non authoritarian Iranians will be much better off with a weakened dictatorship.

R562, ideological authoritarian governments, like the Soviet Union or China or Iran, seem harder to break down than the average criminal dictatorship. They aren’t built around one family or one leader (ahem). There’s more opportunity for other factions and power centers to develop in such a governments and they may have plans if the current leadership runs into trouble.

R560 He wasn't alone. The regime executed 600 of the other protestors. They just held and tortured this one the longest.

I don't know why westerners keep comparing Iran to Iraq except for the fact they just assume all brown-skinned countries are the same.

Iran once was not long ago a thriving, westernized country on its way to being a global leader before the IRGC takeover. It still has plenty of world-class academics, scientists, artists, and industrialists. If this regime were to topple, it could start right where it left off. Non-regimi Iranians are either Monarchists or Republicans, and they have a plan for both. Monarchists in particular have a 10-year transition plan on the table toward Republicanism (not the same as the American kind), a solid constitution, and perfectly serviceable leaders ready to put forward. The shah's son is still alive and well, living in the US with his family and has been a well-loved advocate and spokesperson for the Persian resistance for the last 35ish years. This, paired with a renewed friendship/partnership with Israel, means Iran could have a very good chance at reclaiming its former economic and cultural glory.

That is, so long as far-leftist/communist tools don't meddle like they did during the revolution and fuck everything up.

R565, at least on this thread, peopr are not comparing Iranians to Iraqis. They are comparing the upcoming war in Iran based on allegations of WMD versus the past failure based on allegations of WMD.

Yet, you expend a lot of characters on an argument no one made. Classic strawman post.

R566 It's an argument plenty are making--namely that regime change will be as disastrous as it was when it was attempted in Iraq.

Ah, this time it will work!

A muslim suicide bomber blew up a church during services today in Syria. Two hundred Nigerian villagers were massacre by a muslim militia this week. Racially and religiously motivated attacks are a daily occurance in Europe. Hindu men were humiliated then massacred in India a few weeks ago. Muslims across the US threaten to destroy the US and call for a global intifada.

Israel is fighting the fight all infidels should be fighting.

And how does bombing Iran stop any of this?

Look. Seven Presidents starting with Jimmy Carter, had the option of attacking Iran. They all chose not to. Even Dick Cheney, who was surrounded by Neo Cons, some how resisted the impulse to be ensnared in Netanyahu's urge to hit Iran. Obama negotiated a treaty with them surrounding their production of nuclear capabilities. In his first term, at Netanyahu's urging, Trump withdrew from that treaty and all negotiations. Now Iran is a client of Putin's as are Syria, and Lebanon. So it is strange that Trump would allow himself to get played by Netanyahu. But he was. This is the gang that couldn't shoot straight. Trump Marco, Hegseth, etc. Amateurs all. I don't like the way this went down. I am not necessarily opposed to it, but I don't like it. Netanyahu has been wanting a showdown with Lebanon and Iran for decades. He is on a rampage. First Gaza, and now Iran. And maybe it's completely justified that he would feel that way. But having Trump in charge and doing what 7 other Presidents refused to do, bothers the hell out of me. Those other Presidents had competency on their side. Generals and advisers who had experience and upheld the Constitution and understood foreign policy and the Middle East. Trump is a clown. And I think he has endangered us.

BREAKING BREAKING!!!

We interrupt your news to bring you this exclusive: I have direct evidence that Joe Biden was older than he looked!

Well, I think they will get the program going again...they may have been set back by a few years from the bombing...I wonder if it will be worth all the trouble. Esp now oil prices are gonna go sky high! damn, wish I bought gold!

North Korea and Russia have already publicly committed to supplying Iran with nukes today. And the top diplomat for Iran, just arrived in Moscow for an emergency meeting with Putin. The media was speculating on how Iran may retaliate. If I were DJT, I'd have a food taster. Honestly if Trump has outlived his usefulness to Putin because of lack of progress with Ukraine, the stage is now set for Putin to "retire" Trump thru his surrogate. And IMO Netanyahu doesn't have much of a future. I know. He's in his 80's. But still.

[quote] If I were DJT, I'd have a food taster.

R574 Ironically, Trump the clown already has a food tester, and his name is Ronald McDonald.

I heard ceasefire...according to the news

I heard "ceasefire" according to Trump, which is obviously unreliable. Any real sources? And even if something has been agreed what's to say Trump won't blow it up (figuratively, literally) in ten minutes because his fucking Big Mac gave him indigestion? I'm actively rooting for another country to save us from our own President right now

Between Trump, the Ayatollah and Bibi, its hard to imagine who is less reliable.

Trump is less reliable. BeBe is gonna do what he wants and he is not apologizing or listening to anyone, and he is not hiding his hand. The Ayatollah is being himself too. If he says there is no agreement there is no agreement. I cannot see the Iranians agreeing to anything with a madman like Netanyahu running the show.

Funny. Alwaysworried about some madman starting WW III, and now it turns out to be Bebe Netanyahu.

R580 whats funny about that? He’s always been a madman.

The Ayatollah will say he is not negotiating until there is already an agreement. He simply can't appear even weaker than he does or his rule is already over. I honestly don't know what to believe. There may be a cease fire tomorrow. I wouldn't be shocked one way or the other. Somehow I fear that Trump will come out of this looking like a rose. I hope things turn out okay but I just can't stand the idea of Trump getting credit. Watch out...that's exactly what's going to happen.

It looks like the Iranian Foreign Minister has agreed to a cease-fire (watching DW (German) News). Of course, Iran killed 3 Israelis in Be'er Sheva just before that so who knows if the Israelis will feel the need to retaliate. The reality of the matter is that Israel (and the US) have overwhelmingly met their objectives and Iran has been brought to its knees.

Very loud ceasefire going on this evening after the ceasefire.

It does seem like a cease-fire is going in to effect. Original source: NBC News

they are lying...just trying to buy time.

Just read that USA didn't destroy NOTHING...

On one hand the news says that this only set back Iran's nuclear capabilities by 3-6 months, and on the other had they were saying Iran was years away from a bomb. I guess that means they are now "years" + another 3-6 months away.

R587 I dont think anyone really knows for sure, except maybe Mossad and they arent telling us

I think it's safe to say that at most Iran has been set back about two years. That seems to be the common thread from experts analyzing what happened and from Intel reports. Trump is scamming again. He wants his Nobel Prize. What an asshole. He is having a fucking tantrum about this. No one is a bigger threat to our national security, than Donald Trump as his gang of clowns. Who is gonna keep us safe? Pete Hegseth? Ice Barbie? Kash Patel? Patel's latest scam is telling us he is starting an investigation over how China interfered with the 2020 election. Yeah. What truly incenses me is how seriously the media takes him. They know he lies. They know he stages things. And yet when he proclaimed...on Truth Social that we were attacking and then wow our attack was an incredible success!!! the media lapped it up with absolutely no verification. And calling for a ceasefire on social media how the fuck does anyone take this asshole seriously.

I just saw his press conference, he looks more orange and uglier than usual

[quote]US progressives that are pro Iran nuke weapon development

Yes, and Iraq has WMDs.

[quote]...calling for a ceasefire on social media how the fuck does anyone take this asshole seriously.

Because he's a baboon with the nuclear codes who just invoked Hiroshima and Nagasaki. His instability is manifest, so he needs to be humoured, tolerated, contained. Just today he called media outlets 'scum' because they don't kiss his ring. If enough media called him out he'd lash out in grotesque ways just to assert primacy. J6 and then some. The best hope is for him one day to be politically damaged mortally, which is when the years of resented tolerance will finally be set aside, and it'll be open season.

he must be furious to be over there for NATO and have every credible media source quoting his own intel to say the airstrikes weren't much at all. LOL! He is so angry he may stroke out.

He's angry because he's been forced to work instead of goofing off on the golf course.

Director John Ratcliffe's claim contradicted a leaked initial assessment that U.S. strikes set back Iran's nuclear program by only several months.

From BBC:

The head of the CIA has said US strikes "severely damaged" Iran's nuclear facilities and set them back years, diverging from a leaked intelligence report that angered President Donald Trump by downplaying the raid's impact.

Iran's nuclear facilities were "badly damaged" by US and Israeli strikes, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei told Al Jazeera English on Wednesday. US media on Tuesday cited a classified US intelligence report that found the strikes had set Iran’s nuclear programme back several months. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments.

R597, I would think that it’s in Iran’s interest to insist that its facilities were all a pile of rubble and totally not worth inspecting.

R598 I seriously doubt that is what Mehr (Iranian News Agency) is reporting. It wouldn't show how powerful they are. After all, they stupidly insisted they they relocated all of their enriched uranium before thae blast. This is what they posted yesterday.

"Iran's Supreme National Security Council said on Tuesday that Israel was forced to accept defeat and a ceasefire unilaterally, and that Iranian armed forces remained prepared to "decisively respond" to any further attack."

New thread?