WAR IRAN ATTACKS - KNOW YOUR ENEMY

Ragnarok

On and On, South of Heaven
This is an older video, made under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad term but the underlying belief system is the same and it is what the ruling class of mullahs believe.

If you think we are taking on a rationale and logical state, you will be caught unawares.

This war is what Iran has wanted for decades and this video will explain the ideology and philosophy that we are dealing with, right now.







The Coming is Upon Us - Translation
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwiadYT-N9k


A Lebanese reporter for the Al-Monitor Middle East news service explains that Iran and Hezbollah view the Syrian civil war not only in a strategic context, but in a prophetic one. In their belief, the radical Sunnis will conquer Syria for a short period of time and then Iranian forces will intervene on their way to destroying Israel.

The unnamed reporter points out that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is, like Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, “known for being a strong believer” in the Shiite prophecy that Iran will lead an End Times war against Islam’s enemies. At that time, the Mahdi will “reappear” and defeat the infidel.

According to the author, Iran and Hezbollah rely upon a book of prophecies called Al-Jafr to guide them. It was passed down to Jafar al-Sadiq, for whom the Jafari school of Shiite jurisprudence is named after. Teachers of this book say that the Syrian leader will be killed in a civil war during the End Times.

A Sunni leader will take over Syria and persecute Shiites, Allawites and Christians. The persecution will continue until an Iranian army invades Syria via Iraq, killing this Sunni leader on the way to capturing Jerusalem. Once Jerusalem is taken, the Mahdi will appear. Interestingly, in a modern context, this means that Hezbollah is fighting to preserve the regime of a man (Bashar Assad) that they believe will be killed.

Keep in mind, the Jafari school of jurisprudence is mainstream Shiite doctrine. There’s bound to be disagreement over the interpretation of prophecy, but these are not the beliefs of an isolated cult. In July 2010, a senior Iranian cleric said that Khamenei told his inner circle that he had met with the Mahdi, who promised to “reappear” during his lifetime.

A very similar eschatological viewpoint is articulated in a 2011 documentary produced by the office of then-President Ahmadinejad. The film, titled The Coming is Upon Us, does not predict a Syrian civil war but shares many of the same details articulated by the Al-Monitor reporter in Lebanon.

A critical point of convergence between the two sources is about Saudi Arabia’s role in prophecy. Both agree that the death of Saudi King Abdullah will be a major trigger. In fact, this event is so central to the Iranian film that it opens up with the statement, “Whoever guarantees the death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, I will guarantee the imminent reappearance of Mahdi.”

What’s amazing about this film is the high level of detail of the discussed prophecies. It is easy to see why, if you were a devout Muslim (especially a Shiite), you would believe that the Mahdi’s return is near.

The arrival of Jews in Palestine from the West and the birth of the state of Israel, the conquering of Arabia by the Al-Sauds and the global dominance of the U.S. and the West are all clearly foretold, it claims.

An Allah-blessed revolution will take place in Iran led by a man based out of Qom. The narrators point to the 1979 Islamic Revolution as a clear fulfillment. After this happens, a series of vague and specific “signs” are to follow.

The most specific “signs” are related to Iraq. The Iranian video claims that prophecy requires the invasion of Iraq by infidels from the south with heavy use of aircraft, as happened in 2003. The infidel will cause tribal divisions and the evil dictator of Iraq (Saddam), will be killed.

Other signs include the Westernization of Muslim youth (with the 2009 Green Revolution offered as evidence), the Iran-backed Houthi rebellion in Yemen and the overthrow of Egyptian President Mubarak.

“The preparer,” named Seyed Khorasani, will rule Iran at this decisive point in history. He will come from Khorasan Province, his strong army will have black flags and there will be a “sign” in his right hand. The filmmakers point out that Khamenei fills these requirements and has a disabled right hand.

Yamani will coordinate the offensive against the infidel with Khorasani that trigger the Mahdi’s reappearance. The film argues that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is his incarnation. Yamani will have a Yemeni background and it says that Nasrallah’s ancestors came to Lebanon from Yemen.


Khorasani/Khamenei’s military leader is given the name of Shoeib-Ebne Saleh. The film allegedly produced by Ahmadinejad’s office predictably says he is the incarnation of this figure. However, any military commander under Khamenei can arguably be him.

Analysis of these prophecies helps us see the future through the eyes of Hezbollah and the Iranian regime.


Iran and Hezbollah are first focused on assembling an anti-Western Arab coalition. The Coming is Upon Us film specifically cites the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood as a step towards this, even if Iran and the Brotherhood are on opposite sides in Syria.

This stage includes fomenting internal strife in Bahrain, a Shiite-majority country governed by a pro-American Sunni monarchy. A representative of Khamenei said in 2011 that Bahrain presents “the best opportunity to begin setting the stage for the emergence of the 12th imam, our Mahdi.”

The development that Iran is eagerly awaiting is the death of the Saudi King Abdullah, which will trigger internal strife throughout Saudi Arabia. It is probable that this is when Iran hopes to begin a rebellion in the Shiite-majority Eastern Province where 90% of the country’s oil is.

After Assad is killed and replaced by a vicious Sunni leader, Iranian forces are to invade Syria from Iraq. The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and the Iraqi government’s slide into the Iranian orbit are undoubtedly seen as dramatic “signs.”

Once an Arab coalition is formed and Syria is invaded, Jerusalem is to be captured by the Iranian-led forces. At this point, the Mahdi is to reappear and final victory will come that includes a Nasrallah-led march to Mecca.

The Al-Monitor report appears fanciful until all of these pieces are put together. Once they are, it is easier to understand why the Iran-Hezbollah bloc is confident of victory.

“According to Shiites who believe in this [Al-Jafr] book, mainly Khamenei and Nasrallah, there is one possible explanation. The signs of reappearance of Mahdi are being successfully unveiled, and the Great War with Israel and the disbelievers is just around the corner,” writes the Lebanese reporter.

The Shiite Islamists’ End Times worldview does not necessarily result in recklessness. They do consider military strength and geopolitical realities, but the objectives of those calculations are to fulfill prophecy. Any policy debate that takes place among them is not about whether to pursue the war that summons the Mahdi, but how.
 

Ragnarok

On and On, South of Heaven
I hope SOMEONE takes the time to watch this...

You will understand why the adherents of Islam don't seem to ever REALLY want peace in the region and why they take the measures that they do against those who don't believe the same...
 

China Connection

TB Fanatic
Iran attacks two US airbases in Iraq in wake of Suleimani killing
Iran says it has launched missile attacks on al-Asad and Erbil airbases ‘in the name of martyr General Qassem Suleimani’
Michael Safi in Beirut, Julian Borger in Washington and Patrick Wintour in London
Wed 8 Jan 2020 12.26 AEDTLast modified on Wed 8 Jan 2020 16.39 AEDT

Play Video
0:46
Iran releases footage of missile attack on US airbases in Iraq – video
Iran has launched more than a dozen missiles at Iraqi bases hosting US and coalition troops, declaring the strikes to be retaliation for the killing last week of top general Qassem Suleimani.
Al-Asad air base in Iraq’s Anbar province, which hosts a US contingent, was hit at least six times, the US military confirmed. The Pentagon said at least one other base in the northern city of Erbil was targeted in the attack which commenced around 1.30am local time on Wednesday (10.30pm GMT).
There were no immediate reports of casualties from the attacks and both sides showed signs they were keen not to escalate further.
Iran's assault on US bases in Iraq might satisfy both sides


Read more
A clearly relieved Donald Trump struck an upbeat tone in the immediate wake of the attacks. “All is well!” he declared on Twitter. He said casualty assessments were under way but “so far, so good”. There had been reports he had been planned a televised address to the nation, but as it emerged there had been no reported casualties, he delayed making a statement until the morning.
The Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif, meanwhile said Iran had “concluded” what he characterised the missile strikes as “proportionate measures in self-defence”.
It is unclear whether the limited missile salvo will mark a complete end to Iranian reprisals for the death of Suleimani, the head of the elite al-Quds Force, an external operations wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), or whether the leadership intend further retribution at a later date.
It was the IRGC which announced the start of the missile strike in a statement saying: “The brave soldiers of IRGC’s aerospace unit have launched a successful attack with tens of ballistic missiles on the al-Asad military base in the name of martyr General Qassem Suleimani.”
Iran launches missiles at US forces in Iraq at al-Asad and Erbil – live updates


Read more
The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported a second wave of strikes against the al-Asad base took place at around 3.20am. Iranian state media outlets said the country had launched fighter jets but their mission appeared to have been defensive, to protect Iran’s air space.
The US said it was working on initial assessments of the damage and said both bases had been on high alert in recent days in anticipation of an Iranian response to the Suleimani’s assassination.
After launch missiles from west of the country, Iran signaled that if the US did not retaliate, the attacks would stop. Zarif tweeted around 5.30am local time that Iran had taken “and concluded” what he characterised as a proportional response taken in self-defence within the boundaries of what was permitted by international law.
Javad Zarif(@JZarif)
Iran took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens & senior officials were launched.

We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression.
January 8, 2020
The sprawling al-Asad air base, about 60km west of Baghdad, has been used by American and coalition forces since its capture during the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq and has been visited by Donald Trump and vice-president Mike Pence in the past 18 months. It is estimated to host around 1,500 foreign troops.
IRGC officials were quoted in state media outlets warning the US against retaliating for the missile strikes and warned that Israel could be attacked if it did.
The al-Asad base has previously been a target of an Iranian-backed Shia militia, Kata’ib Hezbollah, whose attacks on US and coalition troops triggered tit-for-tat strikes that culminated in the drone strike.
Earlier in the day, the secretary of Iran’s national security council, Ali Shamkhani, said 13 “revenge scenarios” were being considered in the wake of the assassination and that even the most limited options would be a “historic nightmare” for the US.
Shamkhani told the Tasnim news agency: “The 27 US bases that are closest to Iran’s border are already on high alert; they know that the response is likely to include medium-range and long-range missiles.”
Trump responded to Iranian threats in remarks to the press at the White House. “We’re totally prepared. And likewise, we’re prepared to attack if we have to,” he said. But he appeared to draw back from his earlier threats to target Iranian cultural sites, a potential war crime.

US allies had already begun leaving Baghdad, which was buzzing as night fell on Tuesday with helicopters flying in and out of the city’s fortified diplomatic district, known as the Green Zone. Canada, which currently leads the Nato training mission, said it was pulling out some of its 500 troops, and Germany said its presence in Iraq would be “temporarily thinned out”. Most of the Nato troops withdrawing were reported to be heading for Kuwait.
“We have temporarily suspended our training on the ground, and we are taking all precautions necessary to protect our people,” a Nato spokesperson said. “This includes the temporary repositioning of some personnel to different locations both inside and outside of Iraq.”
The US-led coalition to counter Isis is also repositioning its forces to lessen their vulnerability to attack. Britain’s defence secretary, Ben Wallace, said that non-essential personnel were being moved from Baghdad to Taji, about 19 miles (30km) to the north.

As 2020 begins…
… we’re asking readers, like you, to make a new year contribution in support of the Guardian’s open, independent journalism. This has been a turbulent decade across the world – protest, populism, mass migration and the escalating climate crisis. The Guardian has been in every corner of the globe, reporting with tenacity, rigour and authority on the most critical events of our lifetimes. At a time when factual information is both scarcer and more essential than ever, we believe that each of us deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its heart.

You’ve read 28 articles in the last four months. More people than ever before are reading and supporting our journalism, in more than 180 countries around the world. And this is only possible because we made a different choice: to keep our reporting open for all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford to pay.

We have upheld our editorial independence in the face of the disintegration of traditional media – with social platforms giving rise to misinformation, the seemingly unstoppable rise of big tech and independent voices being squashed by commercial ownership. The Guardian’s independence means we can set our own agenda and voice our own opinions. Our journalism is free from commercial and political bias – never influenced by billionaire owners or shareholders. This makes us different. It means we can challenge the powerful without fear and give a voice to those less heard.

None of this would have been attainable without our readers’ generosity – your financial support has meant we can keep investigating, disentangling and interrogating. It has protected our independence, which has never been so critical. We are so grateful.

As we enter a new decade, we need your support so we can keep delivering quality journalism that’s open and independent. And that is here for the long term. Every reader contribution, however big or small, is so valuable. Support The Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.
Support The Guardian
Why support matters
Accepted payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express  and Paypal


 

China Connection

TB Fanatic
US bans airlines from flying over Iraq and Iran after attacks on military
Ban comes after Iran fired missiles against at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US-led coalition personnel
Reuters
Wed 8 Jan 2020 13.44 AEDTLast modified on Wed 8 Jan 2020 13.48 AEDT

The FAA said it issued the airspace ban ‘due to heightened military activities and increased political tensions in the Middle East’.
The FAA said it issued the airspace ban ‘due to heightened military activities and increased political tensions in the Middle East’. Photograph: Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it would ban US carriers from operating in the airspace over Iraq, Iran, the Gulf of Oman and the waters between Iran and Saudi Arabia after Iran launched a missile attack on US-led forces in Iraq.
Tehran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles from Iranian territory against at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US-led coalition personnel, the US military said on Tuesday.
The FAA said it issued the airspace ban “due to heightened military activities and increased political tensions in the Middle East, which present an inadvertent risk to US civil aviation operations”.
Several non-US airlines had flights over parts of Iraq and Iran at the time, according to FlightRadar24 data. They are not directly affected by the FAA ban, but foreign carriers and their national regulators typically consider US advice carefully when deciding where to fly.
Before the latest guidance, the FAA had already prohibited US carriers from flying below 26,000ft over Iraq and from flying over an area of Iranian airspace above the Gulf and Gulf of Oman since Iran shot down a high-altitude US drone last June.
Singapore Airlines said after the attack on US bases in Iraq that all of its flights would be diverted from Iranian airspace.
Carriers are increasingly taking steps to limit threats to their planes after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down in 2014 by a missile over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board.
An international aviation team has been activated to support “effective coordination and communication” between airlines and countries as tensions mount in the Middle East after a US drone strike killed an Iranian military commander, the global airlines body IATA said on Tuesday.
Qassem Suleimani's death threatens to open grisly new chapter in Middle East


Read more
Airlines and the United Nations’ aviation agency have started to monitor strategic airspace over Iran and Iraq. With some commercial carriers still serving those countries and others flying over their airspace, the International Air Transport Association also issued a statement reminding countries of their obligation to communicate potential risks to civil aviation.
“It is critical that states live up to this obligation as tensions in the Middle East rise,” the group said, days after the killing of General Qassem Suleimani on Friday plunged the region into a new crisis.
On Monday, Germany published a new warning for Iraq, indicating areas of concern for overflying traffic, according to a report published by the site OPSGROUP.
The coordination team operated by IATA and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was activated as a “standard precautionary measure”, in the event that contingency measures are required by airlines, IATA said in a statement to Reuters.
The team brings together airlines, regulators and air navigation service providers to ensure any potential risks to aviation are shared quickly, an industry source familiar with the group said.
“Everyone’s urging restraint,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Airspace controlled by Iran and Iraq are seen as strategic for commercial aviation in the Middle East. If there were the need to shut down the airspace, carriers would have to be rerouted which would lead to greater congestion and fuel costs, said the source.

As 2020 begins…
… we’re asking readers, like you, to make a new year contribution in support of the Guardian’s open, independent journalism. This has been a turbulent decade across the world – protest, populism, mass migration and the escalating climate crisis. The Guardian has been in every corner of the globe, reporting with tenacity, rigour and authority on the most critical events of our lifetimes. At a time when factual information is both scarcer and more essential than ever, we believe that each of us deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its heart.

You’ve read 29 articles in the last four months. More people than ever before are reading and supporting our journalism, in more than 180 countries around the world. And this is only possible because we made a different choice: to keep our reporting open for all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford to pay.

We have upheld our editorial independence in the face of the disintegration of traditional media – with social platforms giving rise to misinformation, the seemingly unstoppable rise of big tech and independent voices being squashed by commercial ownership. The Guardian’s independence means we can set our own agenda and voice our own opinions. Our journalism is free from commercial and political bias – never influenced by billionaire owners or shareholders. This makes us different. It means we can challenge the powerful without fear and give a voice to those less heard.

None of this would have been attainable without our readers’ generosity – your financial support has meant we can keep investigating, disentangling and interrogating. It has protected our independence, which has never been so critical. We are so grateful.

As we enter a new decade, we need your support so we can keep delivering quality journalism that’s open and independent. And that is here for the long term. Every reader contribution, however big or small, is so valuable. Support The Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.


 

China Connection

TB Fanatic
Iran fires rockets at US forces in Iraq: All the latest updates
Iranian rockets hit two Iraqi bases hosting US troops amid escalating tensions following US killing of Iran's Soleimani.
9 minutes ago


MORE ON SOLEIMANI ASSASSINATION
Iran has fired more than a dozen rockets at two Iraqi military bases hosting US troops, the Pentagon confirmed.
The rockets fired at the Ain al-Asad base in Anbar province and a base in Erbil early on Wednesday came amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran following the US killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Iraq last week. Iran had pledged severe retailiation.
More:
Here are all of the latest updates as of Wednesday, January 8:
No Iraqi casualties in 22-missile Iranian attack overnight: military
The Iraqi military said in a statement that 22 missiles were launched on the Ain al-Asad air base and a base in Erbil between 1:45am and 2:15am, but there were no casualties among Iraqi forces.
It said two of the 17 missiles targeting Ain al-Asad base did not go off.
The five on Erbil all targeted coalition headquarters.
Norway says none of its troops injured or killed
No Norwegian troops were injured or killed in the attack on the Al-Asad air base in Iraq, a Norwegian military spokesman told Reuters news agency.
The country has about 70 soldiers at the base, said Brynjar Stordal at Norway's military headquarters.
Denmark says none of its soldiers wounded or killed
The Danish armed forces said in a Twitter post none of its soldiers were wounded or killed in the missile strike on the Al-Asad airbase.
Denmark has about 130 soldiers at the base as part of the international coalition fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) armed group.
Iran launches missile attacks on US forces in Iraq
80 'US terrorists' killed in attack: Iranian state TV

Iranian state television said that at least 80 "American terrorists" were killed in attacks involving 15 missiles Tehran launched on US targets in Iraq, adding that none of the missiles were intercepted.
State TV, citing a senior Revolutionary Guards source, also said Iran had 100 other targets in the region in its sights if Washington took any retaliatory measures.
It also said US helicopters and military equipment were "severely damaged".
India issues travel warning on Iraq

India issued a travel warning asking its citizens to avoid "non-essential" travel to Iraq.
"In view of the prevailing situation in Iraq, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Iraq until further notification," India's foreign ministry said in a statement.
"Indian nationals residing in Iraq are advised to be alert and may avoid travel within Iraq," it said, adding that the Indian embassy in Baghdad and consulate in Erbil remain operational.
Pakistan warns citizens to 'exercise maximum caution'
Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised Pakistan citizens planning to visit Iraq to "exercise maximum caution".
Those already in Iraq are advised to remain in close contact with Pakistan's embassy in Baghdad.
A handout screengrab grab taken from a video released by Iranian state TV (IRIB) shows rockets lunched from Iran against the US military base in Ein-al Asad in Iraq, 08 January 2020. According to Iran

A handout screengrab grab taken from a video released by Iranian state TV (IRIB) shows rockets launched from Iran against the US military base in Ein-al Asad in Iraq [EPA]
Japan urges diplomacy after Iran missile attack
Japan urged a return to diplomacy and called on governments to do their utmost to help ease tensions following the Iranian missile attack at bases in Iraq used by US forces.
Japanese Chief Cabinet spokesman Yoshihide Suga said the government would "coordinate with the related governments to collect intelligence while we ensure the safety of Japanese citizens in the region."
“Japan will also urge all related nations to do their utmost diplomatic effort to improve the relations," he added.
US security posture in UAE unchanged after Iraq attacks - official
The United States has maintained its security posture in key ally the United Arab Emirates, a spokesperson from the US embassy said.
"The US security posture in the UAE has not changed," the spokesperson told Reuters.
Oil surges, stocks fall after Iran attack
Oil prices surged after the Iran attack on US forces in Iraq, raising the prospect of a regional conflagration that could disrupt oil supplies. Stocks fell sharply.
Brent crude futures soared $1.83, or 2.7 percent, to $70.10 by about 01:48 GMT, after earlier rising to $71.75, the highest since mid-September 2019.
Gold bar

The price of gold soared in the wake of the Iran attacks as investors worried about further escalations [File: Tamara Abdul Hadi/Reuters]
The price of gold also shot higher, rising 1.91 percent on the spot market to $1,603.93 per ounce ($30,161.88 per gramme) as investors rushed for safe-haven investments.
"We've moved on from how Iran will respond to now anticipating the US 52-pronged response as the US military forces in the region are in a heightened state of alert while likely preparing for war," said Stephen Innes, strategist at AxiTrader. "It's not going to be pretty today."
Read more here.
Philippines to evacuate citizens from Iraq
The Philippines has ordered a mandatory evacuation of Filipinos in Iraq, its foreign ministry said on Wednesday following the attack on US forces there.
"The Alert Level in the entire Iraq has been raised to Alert Level 4 calling for mandatory evacuation," said Eduardo Mendez, a spokesman at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Iranian official warns any US retaliation will lead to regional war
Any US retaliation to Iran's missile attacks on American targets in Iraq could lead to an all-out war in the Middle East, an adviser to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani tweeted on Wednesday.
"Any adverse military action by the US will be met with an all out war across the region. The Saudis, however, could take a different path - they could have total peace!" Hessameddin Ashena said in a statement on Twitter.
Trump tweets 'all is well'

Following the attacks, Trump said "all is well" and he will be making a statement on Wednesday morning local time.
"All is well!" Trump tweeted. "Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning."

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump

View: https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1214739853025394693


All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning.
417K
1:45 PM - Jan 8, 2020
Twitter Ads info and privacy
194K people are talking about this


Zarif: Iran took proportionate measures in self-defence
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter that Iran took what it considered to be proportionate measures and does not seek an escalation of war.
"Iran took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens & senior officials were launched. We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression," Zarif tweeted.

Javad Zarif
@JZarif

View: https://twitter.com/JZarif/status/1214736614217469953


Iran took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens & senior officials were launched.

We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression.
30.3K
1:32 PM - Jan 8, 2020
Twitter Ads info and privacy
19.3K people are talking about this


Soleimani buried
Iran has buried the top Revolutionary Guard general killed by a US airstrike in Baghdad.
The burial of Qassem Soleimani came after a stampede at his funeral killed 56 and Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on Iraqi bases housing American troops in response to his assassination.
Officials lowered the shroud-wrapped remains of Soleimani into the ground in the southeastern city of Kerman just before 6am Wednesday local time.
Australian PM says all personnel in Iraq safe
Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison said all of the country's diplomatic and military personnel stationed in Iraq were safe, after Iran launched missile attacks on US bases there.
Speaking to reporters from a bushfire-ravaged island in southern Australia, Morrison said the situation in Iraq was very fluid and he was receiving constant updates.
Morrison said he would be returning to the capital, Canberra, later on Wednesday to meet with defence chiefs and the relevant ministers.
Pompeo briefs Kurdistan PM Barzani on Iran missile attacks
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo briefed Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Iran's missile attacks on two Iraqi military bases, including in Erbil, the State Department said in a statement.
"The Secretary and Prime Minister Barzani agreed to stay in close touch as the situation develops," the statement said.

 

China Connection

TB Fanatic
IRGC commander says missile attacks 'first step': State TV
Iran's missile attacks on US targets in Iraq was the first step and Tehran will not spare American troops, Iranian state TV quoted a Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) commander as saying.

"The missile attacks today were just the first step (US President Donald) should think about withdrawing its troops from the region and not to leave them within our reach," Iranian state TV quoted the commander as saying, without naming him.

iraq us bases map


US official: Very few if any casualties from Iranian attack on sites in Iraq
There have been very few casualties, if any, from the Iranian attacks on sites hosting US forces in Iraq, a US official told the Associated Press news agency.

Iran's telecommunications minister: 'Get the hell out of our region'
Following Wednesday's attacks, Iranian telecommunication minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi tweeted: "Get the hell out of our region!"


2,197 people are talking about this



Biden: I'm holding off on making a comment
Joe Biden, the former US vice president and a frontrunner in the 2020 Democratic presidential race, tweeted he was going to hold off on making a comment on Wednesday's strike.

"I’m going to hold off on commenting on the news tonight until we know more, but there is one thing I will say: Jill and I are keeping our troops and Americans overseas in our prayers. We hope you’ll keep them in yours," Biden tweeted.


Joe Biden

@JoeBiden

https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1214722638733406209

I’m going to hold off on commenting on the news tonight until we know more, but there is one thing I will say: Jill and I are keeping our troops and Americans overseas in our prayers. We hope you’ll keep them in yours.

67.5K

12:37 PM - Jan 8, 2020
Twitter Ads info and privacy

12.8K people are talking about this



US FAA bans airlines from flying over Iraq, Iran
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it would ban US carriers from operating in the airspace over Iraq, Iran, the Gulf of Oman and the waters between Iran and Saudi Arabia after Iran launched a missile attack on US-led forces in Iraq.

Trump unlikely to immediately make televised address: reports
US President Donald Trump is unlikely to address the US on Tuesday night local time, US media said following reports he was preparing to give a televised speech.

What war powers does Trump have?
Under the US Constitution, authority to direct military action is divided between Congress and the president.

Congress has the power to declare war while the president, as commander in chief, has power to use the military to defend the US.

Trump on Soleimani

Trump delivers remarks following the US Military killing against Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad, Iraq [Tom Brenner/Reuters]
From the beginning, presidents and Congress have disputed over whether presidents have constitutional authority to send forces into hostilities abroad without congressional authorisation, according to a history of the law prepared by the Congressional Research Service.

Read more here.

Iran used surface-to-surface missiles: Fars
Iran used Fateh-313 surface-to-surface missiles to hit Ain al-Asad airbase, Iran's semi-officials Fars news agency reported.

Trump to address US
US President Donald Trump is expected to address the US Tuesday night local time.

Iran starts 'second round' of attacks against US bases in Iraq: Tasnim
Iran has started its "second round" of attacks against bases holding US troops in Iraq, the Tehran-based Tasnim news agency said on Wednesday.

The second round of attacks started an hour after the first phase took place, the agency reported.

Pelosi: America and world cannot afford war
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tweeted she was following the events in Iraq.

"Closely monitoring the situation following bombings targeting U.S. troops in Iraq," Pelosi said. "We must ensure the safety of our servicemembers, including ending needless provocations from the Administration and demanding that Iran cease its violence. America & world cannot afford war."


Nancy Pelosi

@SpeakerPelosi

https://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi/status/1214706118494212104

Closely monitoring the situation following bombings targeting U.S. troops in Iraq. We must ensure the safety of our servicemembers, including ending needless provocations from the Administration and demanding that Iran cease its violence. America & world cannot afford war.

72.6K

11:31 AM - Jan 8, 2020
Twitter Ads info and privacy

39.5K people are talking about this



Democrats were angered over US President Donald Trump decision to order the killing of Soleimani without consulting Congress.

House Democrats are preparing to vote later this week on a War Powers Resolution aimed at limited Trump's actions in Iran.

Trump may address US following attacks on US forces: reports
US media reported the White House is making plans for a possible address by US President Donald Trump following the attacks against US forces in Iraq. Al Jazeera has not independently confirmed those reports.

iraq us bases map


Iran threatens to attack Israel and US allies
Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned US regional allies, including Israel, that they will be attacked if their countries are used for attacks against Tehran, Iranian state media said.

Ain al-Assad attack

This still image from an Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting video allegedly shows rockets launched from Iran against the US military base in Ein-al Asad in Iraq [Handout/IRIB/AFP]
White House: Trump briefed on attacks on US forces in Iraq
White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said US President Donald Trump has been briefed and is monitoring the situation in Iraq.

"We are aware of the reports of attacks on US facilities in Iraq," Grisham tweeted. "The President has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national security team."


Stephanie Grisham

@PressSec

https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1214695482418700289

We are aware of the reports of attacks on US facilities in Iraq. The President has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national security team.

28.9K

10:49 AM - Jan 8, 2020
Twitter Ads info and privacy

12.4K people are talking about this



Pompeo and Esper arrive the White House
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper have arrived at the White House following the attacks on US forces in Iraq.

IRGC: Rockets in revenge of Soleimani killing
Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed it fired rockets at US forces in Iraq in revenge for the killing of Soleimani.

Iran threatens 'more crushing responses' if fresh US attack: State TV
Tehran has threatened "more crushing responses" if the US retaliates for Wednesday's rocket attack, Iranian state TV said.

Pentagon confirms rockets fired at two Iraqi bases hosting US troops
Tehran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles from Iranian territory against at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US-led coalition personnel, the Pentagon confirmed.

"We are working on initial battle damage assessments," Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in statement, adding that the bases targeted were at Ain al-Asad air base and another in Erbil, Iraq.

Attacks underway on multiple locations in Iraq: US official
The US believes there have been potentially multiple attacks on locations in Iraq, including the Ain al-Asad airbase that hosts US forces, a US official told Reuters, without providing additional information.

Another U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, had confirmed to Reuters earlier that a rocket attack had taken place against Ain al-Asad airbase, but did not confirm other sites.

US official confirms airstrikes at Iraq’s Ain al-Asad air base housing US troops
US official confirms to the Associated Press news agency that airstrikes were carried out at Iraq’s Ain Asad air base housing US troops.

Iran fires rockets at Iraq base housing US troops
Iran has fired more than a dozen rockets at Iraq's Ain al-Asad military base, which houses US troops, Iraqi sources told Al Jazeera.

"We have had not had any reports of casualties or damage," Al Jazeera's Osama bin Javaid said, reporting from Baghdad.

The rockets come less than a week after the US killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Iraq.

Iran had vowed severe retaliation.

 

Dozdoats

On TB every waking moment
Their end time prophecies, our end time prophecies. Nasty when they run together head on.

I guess I am not enough of a true believer, because I don't believe in prophecy - I believe I am told not to as no man knows etc. But religion/prophecy makes such an irresistible lever to those who wish their own ends to control people.

But YMMV.
 

Ragnarok

On and On, South of Heaven
I am really curious if they have lowered the red flag that was raised for the first time in history?

It would tell if we are really done with this incident, yet. IMHO, this is not over, yet, but then I was REALLY gobsmacked when Iran attacked the Saudi oil field and the Kingdom did not retaliate in any way.

The concept of "face" is HUGE in the tribalist Middle East and both Iran and Saudi Arabia have to be appearing pretty weak, right now...
 

Luddite

Veteran Member
Saving face plays second fiddle to having your a$$ handed to you. Would true believers accept plane-loads of cash from the great satan?

Rag, I highly respect your knowledge of islam. The snapshot for me, ATM, shows pragmatism from at least some of the goat-humpers.

For the last 40 years, the noise of radicalism has masked the fact that MONEY talks and BS walks. While our 52 hostages were languishing, Iran was dealing oil through a jew, Klinton's buddy marc rich. Just one example.

I hesitate to bring up the rumored crash in Ahvaz that was rumored to cause hitlery's head injury. Wasn't ache-man dither jihad (ahmadinejad) supposed to be in that town at that time? Strictly rumor. Hope I don't get infraction for even mentioning it.

I guess my point being, true believers don't control anything, ATM. jmho
 
Last edited:

Ragnarok

On and On, South of Heaven
Saving face plays second fiddle to having your a$$ handed to you. Would true believers accept plane-loads of cash from the great satan?

Watch the video I posted... Death in war with the infidels equals the only 100% way to get into paradise.

1578595630474.png

War with the Great Satan is the desired end, by all means. "War is deceit" and they are not done, yet.

Would "true believers" accept plane-loads of cash from us??? In a heartbeat... And, then turn around and spend the money in weapons and ways to attack us. The Palestinians have been doing it for decades.

Take the time to watch the video and then see if your questions aren't answered...
 

Luddite

Veteran Member
Watch the video I posted... Death in war with the infidels equals the only 100% way to get into paradise.

View attachment 178995

War with the Great Satan is the desired end, by all means. "War is deceit" and they are not done, yet.

Would "true believers" accept plane-loads of cash from us??? In a heartbeat... And, then turn around and spend the money in weapons and ways to attack us. The Palestinians have been doing it for decades.

Take the time to watch the video and then see if your questions aren't answered...
I watched it. I tried to keep an open mind. I stand by post 12.
 

Ragnarok

On and On, South of Heaven
Ayatollah Khamenei: Iran's retaliation against US only 'a slap'

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says Iran’s early Wednesday missile attack on US bases in Iraq following the American assassination of a top general was just “a slap”.

"The talk of revenge and such debates are a different issue. For now, a slap was delivered on their face last night," Ayatollah Khamenei said in remarks broadcast live on national television Wednesday.

"What is important about confrontation is that the military action as such is not sufficient. What is important is that the seditious American presence in the region must end," he said to chants of "Death to America" by an audience in Tehran.

The remarks came hours after Iran responded to the US assassination of the Middle East's most prominent anti-terror commander General Qassem Soleimani and his Iraqi trenchmate Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis with a barrage of missiles that hit two US bases in Iraq.

Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran is quite equipped in the face of the global bullying powers. "It is a very blatant mistake that some people think if they take a step back, the Americans will stop their hostility."

"Some people say and even write in newspapers that we should act so that America does not get angry; this is absolutely wrong. This is contrary to the Qur'an commandment," the Leader added.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the overriding responsibility of the masses is to discern their enemies, and "I am firmly saying that the enemy is America, the Zionist regime and the arrogant apparatus of corporations and institutions."

They have brought war, sedition and destruction to the region and "wherever they have put their foot on," the Leader said.

"This must end. This region does not accept the American presence. Governments emanating from their people do not accept this," he added.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the Americans "are now adamant about dealing the same corruption and destruction against the dear Iran and the Islamic Republic."

"They keep insisting on negotiation, but these things are a prelude to intervention," he said.

The Leader hailed the Iraqi parliament's decision ordering US troops to leave the country as well as the Iranian parliament's blacklisting of American forces as terrorists.

"This measure by the Majlis was a very good blow. The Iraqi parliament's act for the expulsion of America from Iraq was also very good. May God help them continue this path."

"The Americans want Iraq to be like the former idolatrous regime in Iran or Saudi Arabia today - a region full of oil to be under their control so they can do whatever they want - a milking cow in the words of that person," Ayatollah Khamenei said in reference to US President Donald Trump.

"But the faithful elements and the Iraqi youth and their Marja'iya (religious authorities) stood up to these scenarios and Haj Qassem assisted this vast front in the capacity of an active adviser and an honorable supporter," the Leader added.

The US, Ayatollah Khamenei said, has similar plans for Lebanon. "The Americans want to clear Lebanon of the most important factor of independence which is the resistance so that it cannot resist."

However, "thank God, Hezbollah has become stronger day by day and today, both Lebanon's hands and eyes are Hezbollah and the role of our martyr [Gen. Soleimani] is paramount and outstanding," the Leader added.

Ayatollah Khamenei said some of the "hated regimes in the region which say things from time to time against us are not our enemy as long as they do not act against the Islamic Republic" in collaboration with Iran's enemies.

The Leader also said the US assassination of Gen. Soleimani served the Islamic Revolution. "His martyrdom showed to the world the Revolution is alive, just when some were trying to insinuate that the Revolution has died in the country."

"You saw what happened in Tehran and other cities," Ayatollah Khamenei said, referring to several million people who came out to pay homage to Gen. Soleimani in the Iranian capital, Ahvaz, Mashhad, Qom and Kerman.

"Enemies felt humiliated in the face of this glory even though they may try to conceal it," he said. "The lying Americans who are not worthy of being valued tried to portray this brave man as a terrorist but the Iranian nation punched them in the mouth."

General Soleimani, the Leader said, thwarted American plans in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.

"The Americans' plan for Palestine was to confine the Palestinian cause to oblivion and for the Palestinians not dare to speak of their struggle," he said.

Gen. Soleimani, the Leader said, "had the Palestinians' hands filled and did something where a small region like Gaza stood up to the Zionist regime with all its vanity and brought such a disaster on them [Israel] which they had to submit to a ceasefire in a matter of 48 hours.”

This was done by Haj Qassem Soleimani. This is what our Palestinian brothers have repeatedly testified before us,” Ayatollah Khamenei added.
 

Ragnarok

On and On, South of Heaven
US troops won't be safe if they prolong their stay in West Asia, Hezbollah official says

US troops will not be safe if they stay in West Asia, says a high-ranking official from the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah against the backdrop of the assassination of Iran's Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and Iraq's Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

The arrogant American administration must know that its terrorism against the peoples of the region and its assassination of Soleimani and Muhandis will not offset its frustration and piled-up failures there. It has lost its prestige, and its allies’ confidence will not be restored,” Vice President of the Executive Council of Hezbollah Sheikh Ali Damoush said on Friday.

The axis of resistance will not be terrorized, rather it will strive to take the mask off the US face among the peoples of the region. The blood of Soleimani and Muhandis will open new horizons to the resistance axis to secure more victories, which will be completed by the full removal of American forces from the region.”

Sheikh Damoush lauded the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) for firing a salvo of ballistic missiles at US military bases in southwestern Iraq in retaliation for the assassination.

The Lebanese cleric went on to say that the region was now divided into two axes: the axis of evil spearheaded by the United States and the axis of resistance led by the Islamic Republic.

The conflict in the region has become very clear and its parties are decisively separated. There is no ambiguity in it just as the goal has become very obvious, which is the US military presence in the region. Such presence will not be safe for them anymore,” Sheikh Damoush said.

He highlighted that mass funeral ceremonies for General Soleimani, who was the commander of the Quds Force of the IRGC, and Abu Mahdi, who was the second-in-command of Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), across Iraqi and Iranian cities and elsewhere sent a clear message that the peoples of the region are ready to make any sacrifice.
 

Ragnarok

On and On, South of Heaven
Hezbollah: Americans must either withdraw voluntarily, or be expelled by force

The parliamentary bloc of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement says the mass funeral ceremonies for Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis across Iraqi and Iranian cities sent a clear message to the Americans that they have no option but to leave the Middle East.

The Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc said in a statement on Thursday that the processions put across a strong message that US military forces should voluntarily withdraw from the region before being driven out by force.

The statement then lauded the IRGC for firing a salvo of ballistic missiles at the US military in southwestern Iraq in retaliation for the assassination of General Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), stressing that the strike was the first slap in the face of Americans.

The Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc further noted that the Lebanese nation must be involved in the fight against US’s hegemony and aggression, emphasizing that the Israeli regime and the United States have devised plots against Lebanon’s security, stability and natural resources.

It also called on Arab nations and governments to learn from the recent regional developments to muster up enough courage in confronting world aggressors and oppressors.

Early on Wednesday, the IRGC targeted the US air base of Ain al-Assad in Anbar province in western Iraq after launching a wave of attacks to retaliate the US assassination of General Soleimani.

Tens of surface-to-surface missiles” were fired at the strategic air base and the attack was later confirmed by the US officials.

The IRGC has called for a complete withdrawal of US troops from the Arab country, asserting that it would not differentiate between the US and Israel in retaliating against the assassination of the Iranian national hero.

We warn US allies providing bases for the [American] terrorist army… that any country serving as the origin of bellicose and aggressive attacks in any form against the Islamic Republic of Iran will be targeted,” read the IRGC statement on Wednesday.

The IRGC added that it would release more details about the strike.

The strike came as no surprise since Iran had vowed to take a “harsh revenge” in the wake of the US terror attack that led to the martyrdom of General Soleimani, the second-in-command of Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), and their companions near Baghdad International Airport on January 3.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei later said Iran’s missile attack on US bases in Iraq was just “a slap.”

"The talk of revenge and such debates are a different issue. For now, a slap was delivered on their face last night," Ayatollah Khamenei said in remarks broadcast live on the national television on Wednesday.

"What is important about confrontation is that the military action as such is not sufficient. What is important is that the seditious American presence in the region must end," he said to chants of "Death to America" by an audience in Tehran.
 

TammyinWI

Talk is cheap
Iran: Total ‘Annihilation of Israel’ Will Be Price for Soleimani Killing


GettyImages-1192337634-736x514-1.jpg

Iranian leaders are issuing renewed calls for the destruction of Israel, saying the “annihilation” of the Jewish state is the only fair price for America’s recent killing of top Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani.

Seyed Hashem al-Heidari, cultural chief of Hashd al-Shaabi, an Iraqi paramilitary force directed by Iran, said Tehran is eyeing Israel as a primary target of retaliatory military strikes following Soleimani’s death last week in a U.S. airstrike.
“Annihilation of Israel and the U.S. is the price of the blood of martyr Soleimani,” al-Heidari said early Wednesday during an anti-U.S. gathering in the Iranian city of Qom.

“This aggression should be responded to by the tough revenge stressed by Supreme Leader [Ayatollah Khamenei] and all options are on the table,” al-Heidari said in remarks published by Tehran’s state-controlled press. “All U.S. bases in the region, the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, and all their soldiers are within the range of resistance missiles because annihilation of Israel and the U.S. is the price of the blood of martyr Soleimani, and God willing the entire region will be liberated.”

Iran’s continued threats of violence followed the Islamic Republic’s Tuesday evening attack on U.S. military outposts in Iraq. Iranian military sources said the strike, which was comprised of about 15 ballistic missiles, hit at least “20 sensitive points” and resulted “in the destruction of a considerable number of drones and helicopters.”

Iran has signaled that it has no plans to scale back its regional terror operations. Iranian military officials said they have identified at least 104 “sensitive U.S. positions” that could be the site of its next missile attack.

“A sum of 104 sensitive U.S. positions in the region have been identified to immediately come under raid as soon as the Americans make the first mistake,” Iranian general Yadollah Javani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, said on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump addressed the nation on Wednesday to urge restraint and advocate for diplomacy following Iran’s escalation. The U.S. president said that he is imposing additional economic sanctions on Iran as a result of the Tuesday attack and urged European nations still party to the 2015 nuclear deal to immediately abandon their commitments under the accord.

“Iran must abandon its nuclear ambitions and end its support of terrorism,” Trump said. “We must all work together toward making a deal with Iran that makes the world a safer and more peaceful place.”

Read more: The Washington Free Bacon

 

Ractivist

Pride comes before the fall.....Pride month ended.
104, how very sophmoric........just the same, the threat is pending....
 

Ragnarok

On and On, South of Heaven
Fliers recruiting suicide terrorists to attack US distributed in Iran

Students at Iran’s Islamic Azad University are being offered a novel new career choice — suicide terrorist.

Leaflets are being distributed at the influential school urging students to sign up for Jihad missions against the United States and Israel to avenge the death of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

“Registration for volunteers to commit a suicide attack against the United States and Israel,” it blares. “Hard revenge is underway for those criminals who killed Qassem Soleimani.”

The flyer, claiming to quote the words of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, carries additional messages of encouragement, including “kill all infidels.”

Anyone looking to volunteer for the mission is asked to leave their first and last name, birth certificate number, education level, current occupation, phone number and fill in an area marked “tell us about your talents.”

News of the jihadist search was reported by Iranian media. The flyer was republished in full on the website of the Iranian news agency Etedaal, and other Iranian news sources.

A translation of the call to action from Farsi was provided to The Post by escaped Iranian dissident Amir-Abbas Fakhravar.

Fakhravar is a longtime pro-Democracy activist currently serving as a chairman of the National Iranian Congress, a quasi-government in exile currently operated out of Washington D.C. He is also an adjunct professor in the Texas state university system.

Media reports in Iran said the forms were being handed out by student cells of Basij, the militia arm of the Iranian revolutionary guard.

“This office is kind of like the gestapo for the regime. They are not fully on the payroll of the regime, but the regime pays them for their projects. When there is a protest somewhere, they are going to crack down on the people and then they get money,” Fakhravar told The Post.

“When I was in medical school in Iran, I had a huge fight with the Basij office. I was ultimately charged with insulting the Supreme Leader,” he said. “For decades they have been recruiting for terrorist attacks for this type of things.”

The Basij commander, Brigadier General Gholamreza Soleimani (no relation to Qassem) was appointed to his post directly by Ayatollah Khamenei, tying the recruitment drives directly to the top leadership of the Iranian regime.
 

Ragnarok

On and On, South of Heaven
Iran Threatens ‘The American Soldier’ Today, ‘The European Soldier’ Tomorrow

Iran’s top diplomat acknowledged Wednesday that Iranians “were lied to” for days following the Islamic Republic accidentally shooting down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing 176 people, as the country’s president warned that European soldiers in the Mideast “could be in danger” after three nations challenged Tehran over breaking limits of its nuclear deal.

The comments by Mohammad Javad Zarif in New Delhi represent the first time an Iranian official referred to the earlier story that a technical malfunction downed the Ukraine International Airlines flight as a lie.

Meanwhile, President Hassan Rouhani’s remarks in a televised Cabinet meeting represent the first direct threat he’s made to Europe as tensions remain high between Tehran and Washington over President Donald Trump withdrawing the U.S. from the deal in May 2018.

The shootdown has sparked days of angry protests in the country.

“In the last few nights, we´ve had people in the streets of Tehran demonstrating against the fact that they were lied to for a couple of days,” Zarif said.

Zarif went onto praise Iran’s military for being “brave enough to claim responsibility early on.”
Canada's Trudeau Appears to Blame Airliner Shootdown on 'Tensions Brought About by U.S. Actions' Canada's Trudeau Appears to Blame Iran Downing Airliner on 'U.S. Actions'
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) January 14, 2020

However, he said that he and President Hassan Rouhani only learned that a missile had down the flight on Friday, raising new questions over how much power Iran’s civilian government has in its Shiite theocracy. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which shot down the aircraft, knew immediately afterward its missile downed the airline.

The Guard is answerable only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is expected to preside over Friday prayers in Iran for the first time in years over anger about the crash.

In Tehran, Rouhani issued his threat in a wide-ranging speech that criticize Britain, France and Germany for starting the so-called “dispute process” of the 2015 nuclear deal.

“Today, the American soldier is in danger, tomorrow the European soldier could be in danger,” Rouhani said. He did not elaborate.

On Tuesday, the European nations reluctantly triggered the accord´s dispute mechanism to force Iran into discussions, starting the clock on a process that could result in the “snapback” of U.N. and EU sanctions on Iran.

The Europeans felt compelled to act, despite objections from Russia and China, because every violation of the deal reduces the so-called “breakout time” Iran needs to produce a nuclear bomb, Britain´s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told Parliament.

Boris Johnson Says 'Trump Deal' Should Replace Obama's Iran Nuclear Deal Boris Says 'Trump Deal' Should Replace Obama's Iran Nuclear Deal
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) January 14, 2020

Zarif, speaking in New Delhi at the Raisina Dialogue, blamed U.S. “ignorance” and “arrogance” for “fueling mayhem” in the Middle East.

Zarif also said that the death of Iran’s most powerful commander, Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, in a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad was being celebrated only by President Trump, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Islamic State group.

Iran launched ballistic missiles on military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq to avenge Soleimani´s killing. Within hours, Iranian forces accidentally shot down the Ukrainian passenger plane in Tehran.

“When they assassinated a revered general in Iraq, violating Iraqi sovereignty, they thought, as Secretary Pompeo tweeted, that people would be dancing in the streets of Tehran and Baghdad,” Zarif said.
 

Ragnarok

On and On, South of Heaven
I know... I know...

It's CNN but I am not posting this as a case against Trump. He handle Iran spectacularly, IMHO.

This is just to highlight that we should not take our eye off the ball. Iran is dangerous and we would do well to remember that...




US troops were injured in Iran missile attack despite Pentagon initially saying there were no casualties

Several US service members were injured during last week's Iranian missile attack on Al-Asad airbase in Iraq despite the Pentagon initially saying that no casualties had taken place.

"While no U.S. service members were killed in the Jan. 8 Iranian attack on Al Asad Air base, several were treated for concussion symptoms from the blast and are still being assessed," the US-led military coalition fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria said in a statement Thursday.

"Out of an abundance of caution, service members were transported from Al Asad Air Base, Iraq to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for follow-on screening. When deemed fit for duty, the service members are expected to return to Iraq following screening," the statement added.

A US military official told CNN that 11 service members had been injured in the attack, which was launched in retaliation for the US airstrikes that had killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani the previous week. Defense One was first to report on the injured service members.

Following the attack the Pentagon said that no casualties had resulted from the 16 missiles fired by Iran. The US military defines a casualty as either an injury or fatality involving personnel.

Asked about the apparent discrepancy, a Defense official told CNN, "That was the commander's assessment at the time. Symptoms emerged days after the fact, and they were treated out of an abundance of caution."

After this story published, Capt. Bill Urban -- the spokesperson for US Central Command, which oversees troops in the Middle East -- said the military had learned after the attack that 11 individuals were injured -- eight were transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and three were sent to Camp Arifjan in Kuwait for "follow-on screening."

"As a standard procedure, all personnel in the vicinity of a blast are screened for traumatic brain injury, and if deemed appropriate are transported to a higher level of care," Urban said in a statement. "All soldiers in the immediate blast area were screened and assessed per standard procedure, according to the Defense Department. ... When deemed fit for duty, the service members are expected to return to Iraq following screening."

Last week, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper had said the initial assessment found only damage to property.

"The current (Battle Damage Assessment) is, if you will, again, we can get you details, things like tentage, taxiways, the parking lot, a damaged helicopter, things like that; nothing that I would describe as major, at least as I note at this point in time. So that's the state of -- of the attack at this point as we know it. Most importantly, no casualties, no friendly casualties, whether they are US, coalition, contractor, etc.," Esper said.

The news of the injuries come after Iran fired at two Iraqi bases housing US troops in retaliation for Soleimani's killing in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. The administration sought to cast its strike on Soleimani as an attempt to de-escalate tensions with Iran, but Tehran has described it as an "act of war" and "state terrorism." Soleimani had been the second most powerful official in the country.

US officials have offered differing accounts of what they see as the motivations behind Iran's attack. Vice President Mike Pence said last week that the administration believes the strikes "were intended to kill Americans," and Army Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he believed that the attacks "were intended to cause structural damage, destroy vehicles and equipment and aircraft, and to kill personnel."

But a growing belief emerged among administration officials last week that Iran had deliberately missed areas populated by Americans. Multiple administration officials told CNN that Iran could have directed its missiles to areas populated by Americans, but intentionally did not. And those officials said Iran may have chosen to send a message rather than take action significant enough to provoke a substantial US military response, a possible signal the Trump administration was looking for a rationale to calm the tensions.

Iraq did receive a warning that the strike was coming and was able to take "necessary precautions," according to a statement from Iraq's Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi. A US defense official said that Iraq, in turn, warned the United States.

However, Pentagon officials have said they received no such warnings from the Iraqis but that the US was able to detect the attack in enough time to alert US forces on the ground.

Iran's UN ambassador said last Friday that the Iraqi bases housing US troops had been primarily selected to demonstrate target accuracy, not to kill Americans, disputing public claims made by top Trump administration officials.

"We said before we took our military action that we would choose the timing and the place, and we chose the place where the attack against Soleimani was initiated," Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi told CNN's John Berman on "New Day" last Friday when asked about Pence's comments. "And we do not consider a high number of casualties as an instrumental element in our calculations."
 

2DEES

Inactive
they lied again! 285 casualties. 139 dead and 146 injured. 15 helos damaged along with other air craft.extensive damage to command center. relative damage to air strip and traffic air control. my guy feeling told me this would turn out badly!
 

Ractivist

Pride comes before the fall.....Pride month ended.
they lied again! 285 casualties. 139 dead and 146 injured. 15 helos damaged along with other air craft.extensive damage to command center. relative damage to air strip and traffic air control. my guy feeling told me this would turn out badly!
Where do these numbers come from?
 

Ragnarok

On and On, South of Heaven
they lied again! 285 casualties. 139 dead and 146 injured. 15 helos damaged along with other air craft.extensive damage to command center. relative damage to air strip and traffic air control. my guy feeling told me this would turn out badly!

What?!?!

I can't tell if you are being sarcastic or not as you are new and don't have a pattern of posting, yet...

Come on... Those numbers are ridiculous. Even Iranian State media isn't claiming that kind of damage...




Pentagon: 11 U.S. Troops Flown out of Iraq with Concussion Symptoms After Iranian Attack

The Pentagon’s Central Command confirmed late Thursday that 11 American troops showed symptoms of concussions strong enough to be flown out of Iraq following an Iranian ballistic missile attack that President Donald Trump claimed left no casualties. Iranian state media claimed the regime’s attack killed 80 Americans.

“While no U.S. service members were killed in the Jan. 8 Iranian attack on Al Asad Air base, several were treated for concussion symptoms from the blast and are still being assessed,” Captain Bill Urban, a spokesman Central Command, told reporters in a statement Thursday. “As a standard procedure, all personnel in the vicinity of a blast are screened for traumatic brain injury, and if deemed appropriate are transported to a higher level of care.”

Those affected were mostly flown out to America’s military base in Germany. Three of the 11 flew out to Kuwait, he said.

“When deemed fit for duty, the service members are expected to return to Iraq following screening. The health and welfare of our personnel is a top priority and we will not discuss any individual’s medical status,” Urban’s statement concluded.
Concussions are injuries that typically arise from brute force to the head or violent shaking; those affected by the missile attacks were likely close enough to be impacted by the force of the missile if not the ensuring fire.

“Some concussions cause you to lose consciousness, but most do not. It’s possible to have a concussion and not realize it,” according to the Mayo Clinic, which adds that most who suffer concussions survive. The degree of severity of a concussion can vary widely, affected by the impact generating it as well as personal details like the patient’s history or if they have previously suffered concussions already.

ABC News noted in its report on the Central Command confirmation that medical privacy laws prevent the military from elaborating on the severity or any details of the injuries documented.

The Pentagon’s confirmation that no American soldiers had died in the attack – over a dozen ballistic missiles launched out of Iran towards two Iraqi airbases hosting American troops – Iranian state propaganda insisted that “dozens of U.S. troops had been killed and injured” on Friday.

“Speaking on Thursday, head of the Aerospace Division of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said dozens of U.S. troops had been killed and injured in the operation,” the state-run PressTV outlet reported. “According to Hajizadeh, the U.S. military conducted at least nine sorties of C-130 flights after the missile strikes, taking wounded personnel to Jordan and Israel while Chinook helicopters transferred the injured to the U.S. hospital in Baghdad.”

The Pentagon has provided no evidence that any of those facilities have taken in injured American soldiers.

Following the missile attack on January 8, at least four Iranian outlets cited Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) “sources” who claimed to know that 80 American soldiers died as a result of the missile launches. One of the outlets, Fars News Agency, claimed another 200 Americans injured, significantly less than the 11 confirmed by the Pentagon.

“According to the accurate reports of our sources in this area, at least 80 American terrorist troops were killed and some 200 others were wounded, who were immediately transferred out of the airbase by helicopters,” an “informed source” told the Mehr News Agency, another state-run outlet. “Despite the fact that Americans had been on high alert, their air defense was unable to respond.”

None of Iran’s outlets reporting this news has corrected their original articles.

The Iranians also claimed this week that their attack had thwarted American activity against the Islamic State in Iraq, contradicting reports from journalists in Iraq that the U.S. had resumed regular cooperation with Iraqi and Kurdish militaries against the Sunni jihadist group.

President Donald Trump also provided an initial assessment at odds with Thursday’s statement from the Pentagon.
“All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq,” Trump said on Twitter following the bombing. “So far, so good!”

“I’m pleased to inform you the American people should be extremely grateful and happy,” he said in public remarks later that night. “No Americans were harmed in last night’s attack by the Iranian regime.”

The missile attack was a response to an American airstrike this month taking out Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani, the head of the IRGC’s Quds Force. The Quds Force is an external terrorism unit, responsible under Soleimani for hundreds of deaths and injuries of American soldiers as a result of roadside bombings.

The Quds Force also played a significant role in attacks on civilians in Syria to cement the control of dictator Bashar al-Assad. At the time of his death, Soleimani was in Baghdad, reportedly helping the regime kill and injure civilians protesting Iran’s growing influence in the country.

Hundreds of Iraqis took the streets of Baghdad in the last months of 2019 against Baghdad allowing Iranian officials sweeping control of the nation’s politics.
 

Ragnarok

On and On, South of Heaven
Iran’s Khamenei Calls Trump a ‘Clown’: Attacks ‘Contemptible’ West

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei lashed out at U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday, calling him a “clown” who pretends to support the Iranian people but will “push a poisonous dagger” into their backs.

He also pointed to “contemptible” Western countries, saying they are too weak to “bring Iranians to their knees.”

Khamenei unleashed his verbal attacks in his first Friday sermon in Tehran in eight years, AP reports. The last time he led Friday prayers in the capital was in 2012 on the 33rd anniversary of the country’s Islamic Revolution when he called Israel a “cancerous tumor” and vowed to support anyone confronting it.

The tirade came in the wake of widespread angry protests over the downing of Ukrainian International Airlines (UIA) Flight 752 by Iran’s military last week killing all onboard.

Most of the passengers were Iranian citizens, as well as Ukrainians and Canadians on their way to a connecting flight in Kyiv to Canada.

Khamenei said the mass funerals for Iran’s top general, who was eliminated in a U.S. airstrike earlier this month, show the Iranian people support the Islamic Republic despite its recent trials. He claimed the “cowardly” attack on Soleimani had taken out the most effective commander in the battle against the Islamic State group.

“The plane crash was a bitter accident, it burned through our heart,” Khamenei said, according to AFP. “But some tried to… portray it in a way to forget the great martyrdom and sacrifice” of Major General Qasem Soleimani, the head of the foreign terror operations arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

“Our enemies were as happy about the plane crash as we were sad … happy that they found something to question the Guards, the armed forces, the system.”

He then turned his attention to Britain, France and Germany, which this week started a dispute mechanism to try and bring Iran back into compliance with the unraveling 2015 JCPOA nuclear agreement, saying were “contemptible” governments and “servants” of the United States.

Thousands of people attended the Friday prayers, occasionally interrupting his speech by chanting “God is greatest!” and “Death to America!”
 

2DEES

Inactive
Where do these numbers come from?
Where do these numbers come from?
Yesterday I had some problems and had to rush again. I went back to very this info and it was gone? Disregard for now. I'm not going to point fingers so I won't reveal sources. I'll be more careful in the future. Sorry for the confusion. So much going on in my personal life and the world, It's becoming overwhelming for me!
 

2DEES

Inactive
they lied again! 285 casualties. 139 dead and 146 injured. 15 helos damaged along with other air craft.extensive damage to command center. relative damage to air strip and traffic air control. my guy feeling told me this would turn out badly!
I may have been duped on this one. I have looked for days to find this but to no avail! My computer is doing some really weird things; Many malicious things being blocked. What made me post this was the specifics that were stated. I may have been taken by this hook ,line and sinker. Will be more careful in the future. Not sarcastic here.
 

2DEES

Inactive
What?!?!

I can't tell if you are being sarcastic or not as you are new and don't have a pattern of posting, yet...

Come on... Those numbers are ridiculous. Even Iranian State media isn't claiming that kind of damage...




Pentagon: 11 U.S. Troops Flown out of Iraq with Concussion Symptoms After Iranian Attack

The Pentagon’s Central Command confirmed late Thursday that 11 American troops showed symptoms of concussions strong enough to be flown out of Iraq following an Iranian ballistic missile attack that President Donald Trump claimed left no casualties. Iranian state media claimed the regime’s attack killed 80 Americans.

“While no U.S. service members were killed in the Jan. 8 Iranian attack on Al Asad Air base, several were treated for concussion symptoms from the blast and are still being assessed,” Captain Bill Urban, a spokesman Central Command, told reporters in a statement Thursday. “As a standard procedure, all personnel in the vicinity of a blast are screened for traumatic brain injury, and if deemed appropriate are transported to a higher level of care.”

Those affected were mostly flown out to America’s military base in Germany. Three of the 11 flew out to Kuwait, he said.

“When deemed fit for duty, the service members are expected to return to Iraq following screening. The health and welfare of our personnel is a top priority and we will not discuss any individual’s medical status,” Urban’s statement concluded.
Concussions are injuries that typically arise from brute force to the head or violent shaking; those affected by the missile attacks were likely close enough to be impacted by the force of the missile if not the ensuring fire.

“Some concussions cause you to lose consciousness, but most do not. It’s possible to have a concussion and not realize it,” according to the Mayo Clinic, which adds that most who suffer concussions survive. The degree of severity of a concussion can vary widely, affected by the impact generating it as well as personal details like the patient’s history or if they have previously suffered concussions already.

ABC News noted in its report on the Central Command confirmation that medical privacy laws prevent the military from elaborating on the severity or any details of the injuries documented.

The Pentagon’s confirmation that no American soldiers had died in the attack – over a dozen ballistic missiles launched out of Iran towards two Iraqi airbases hosting American troops – Iranian state propaganda insisted that “dozens of U.S. troops had been killed and injured” on Friday.

“Speaking on Thursday, head of the Aerospace Division of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said dozens of U.S. troops had been killed and injured in the operation,” the state-run PressTV outlet reported. “According to Hajizadeh, the U.S. military conducted at least nine sorties of C-130 flights after the missile strikes, taking wounded personnel to Jordan and Israel while Chinook helicopters transferred the injured to the U.S. hospital in Baghdad.”

The Pentagon has provided no evidence that any of those facilities have taken in injured American soldiers.

Following the missile attack on January 8, at least four Iranian outlets cited Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) “sources” who claimed to know that 80 American soldiers died as a result of the missile launches. One of the outlets, Fars News Agency, claimed another 200 Americans injured, significantly less than the 11 confirmed by the Pentagon.

“According to the accurate reports of our sources in this area, at least 80 American terrorist troops were killed and some 200 others were wounded, who were immediately transferred out of the airbase by helicopters,” an “informed source” told the Mehr News Agency, another state-run outlet. “Despite the fact that Americans had been on high alert, their air defense was unable to respond.”

None of Iran’s outlets reporting this news has corrected their original articles.

The Iranians also claimed this week that their attack had thwarted American activity against the Islamic State in Iraq, contradicting reports from journalists in Iraq that the U.S. had resumed regular cooperation with Iraqi and Kurdish militaries against the Sunni jihadist group.

President Donald Trump also provided an initial assessment at odds with Thursday’s statement from the Pentagon.
“All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq,” Trump said on Twitter following the bombing. “So far, so good!”

“I’m pleased to inform you the American people should be extremely grateful and happy,” he said in public remarks later that night. “No Americans were harmed in last night’s attack by the Iranian regime.”

The missile attack was a response to an American airstrike this month taking out Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani, the head of the IRGC’s Quds Force. The Quds Force is an external terrorism unit, responsible under Soleimani for hundreds of deaths and injuries of American soldiers as a result of roadside bombings.

The Quds Force also played a significant role in attacks on civilians in Syria to cement the control of dictator Bashar al-Assad. At the time of his death, Soleimani was in Baghdad, reportedly helping the regime kill and injure civilians protesting Iran’s growing influence in the country.

Hundreds of Iraqis took the streets of Baghdad in the last months of 2019 against Baghdad allowing Iranian officials sweeping control of the nation’s politics.
See post # 30
 

Ragnarok

On and On, South of Heaven
I may have been duped on this one. I have looked for days to find this but to no avail! My computer is doing some really weird things; Many malicious things being blocked. What made me post this was the specifics that were stated. I may have been taken by this hook ,line and sinker. Will be more careful in the future. Not sarcastic here.

No issues...

We all get taken in by false reporting from time to time...

I strive to only report factual information that I can verify but I still screw up. The proof that you are reporting in good faith is your ready admittance that you may have been "snookered"!

Good job!

And welcome to the board!
 

2DEES

Inactive
No issues...

We all get taken in by false reporting from time to time...

I strive to only report factual information that I can verify but I still screw up. The proof that you are reporting in good faith is your ready admittance that you may have been "snookered"!

Good job!

And welcome to the board!
I must admit that THE TRUTH from the pentagon, Gov, officials and news media is always suspect from me. The pentagon is now banning Bible verses on dog tags. What has happened to our great country. Thank you for the welcome. In all my posts i am just trying to help!
 

JMG91

Veteran Member
Michael Youssef talks about this in one of his prophecy books. Terrifying and yet fascinating to see how Satan has woven Islam to be the polar opposite of Christianity.
 
Top