Israel pounded Iran with airstrikes early Saturday, saying it was targeting military targets in retaliation for the barrage of ballistic missiles the Islamic Republic fired upon Israel earlier this month. Explosions could be heard in the Iranian capital, Tehran, though there was no immediate information on damage or casualties.
The attack could push the archenemies closer to all-out war at a time of spiraling violence across the Middle East, where militant groups backed by Iran – including Hamas in Gaza, and Hezbollah in Lebanon – are already at war with Israel.
The Israeli military said Saturday it had launched “precise strikes on military targets in Iran,” without immediately elaborating.
“The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since Oct. 7 ... including direct attacks from Iranian soil,” Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a prerecorded video statement early Saturday. “Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond.”
Initially, nuclear facilities and oil installations all had been seen as possible targets for Israel’s response to Iran’s Oct. 1 attack, but in mid-October the Biden administration believed it had won assurances from Israel that it would not hit such targets.
"What? What?What?" -- The 14th Doctor
It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
I’m not for an escalation, but if anyone deserves to get knocked on their ass, it’s Iran. More specifically, the asshat religious leaders and their oppressive regime. Iran is firmly in the FAFO stage.
But according to some reports, this IS Israel showing some restraint as the original targets noted above mention.
Israel pounded Iran with airstrikes early Saturday, saying it was targeting military targets in retaliation for the barrage of ballistic missiles the Islamic Republic fired upon Israel earlier this month. Explosions could be heard in the Iranian capital, Tehran, though there was no immediate information on damage or casualties.
The attack could push the archenemies closer to all-out war at a time of spiraling violence across the Middle East, where militant groups backed by Iran – including Hamas in Gaza, and Hezbollah in Lebanon – are already at war with Israel.
The Israeli military said Saturday it had launched “precise strikes on military targets in Iran,” without immediately elaborating.
“The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since Oct. 7 ... including direct attacks from Iranian soil,” Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a prerecorded video statement early Saturday. “Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond.”
Initially, nuclear facilities and oil installations all had been seen as possible targets for Israel’s response to Iran’s Oct. 1 attack, but in mid-October the Biden administration believed it had won assurances from Israel that it would not hit such targets.
Israel’s strike “is the escalation” . . .
I don’t understand how you can come to that conclusion.
Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel. The Israeli response was by all measures a de-escalation based on what’s being reported tonight.
Very narrow scope of military targets. Specifically hitting ballistic missile batteries and production facilities along with air defense network. The Israeli response was far less than what Israel was initially considering, instead aiming to take out ballistic missiles aimed at Israel and airman’s air defenses. The goal was to remove a clear and present danger and also send a message to Iran that their air defenses - what are left of them - weren’t worth much.
Just 'cause you feel it, doesn't mean it's there -- Radiohead
Do you believe me? Do you trust me? Do you like me? 😳
Kurth wrote: ↑Sat Oct 26, 2024 12:21 am
Israel’s strike “is the escalation” . . .
That's not what I intended to say. I was reacting to the headline saying that this was "risking escalation". The escalation has happened -- i.e. Iran and Israel are directly in conflict instead of indirectly via Iran's standins -- and it is not likely to escalate further in the sense of other actors being drawn in (although there's plenty of opportunity to escalate in intensity). Clearly I could have phrased it better.
"What? What?What?" -- The 14th Doctor
It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
Unagi wrote: ↑Sat Oct 26, 2024 8:33 am“ I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant”
Sometimes I word badly. I've learned to live with it even if I don't like it.
"What? What?What?" -- The 14th Doctor
It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
Unagi wrote: ↑Sat Oct 26, 2024 8:33 am“ I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant”
Sometimes I word badly. I've learned to live with it even if I don't like it.
No worries. We all phrase things poorly sometimes. I’m just glad we’re not so far apart on the substance.
Just 'cause you feel it, doesn't mean it's there -- Radiohead
Do you believe me? Do you trust me? Do you like me? 😳
Iran's military issued a carefully worded statement on Saturday night stating that, while it held the right to retaliate, a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon trumps any reciprocity against Israel.
"What? What?What?" -- The 14th Doctor
It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
Iran's military issued a carefully worded statement on Saturday night stating that, while it held the right to retaliate, a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon trumps any reciprocity against Israel.
They liked fighting the way they have been fighting. This was getting too close to home.
I'm sick of Iran turning distant desperate populations into their cover for launching their attacks.
I'm sick of Israel attacking those desperate populations when it's Iran that's behind it all.
With luck this could be the point where the Iranian regime steps back from the brink for now and directs its proxies to negotiate a cease fire in Gaza and Lebanon. Israel has demonstrated an ability to operate at will in Iranian airspace, but didn't do enough damage to push Iran into a use-it-or-lose-it decision point wrt its ballistic missile arsenal.
An Israeli attack on Iran damaged facilities at a secretive military base southeast of the Iranian capital that experts in the past have linked to Tehran’s onetime nuclear weapons program and at another base tied to its ballistic missile program, satellite photos analyzed Sunday by The Associated Press show.
Some of the buildings damaged sat in Iran’s Parchin military base, where the International Atomic Energy Agency suspects Iran in the past conducted tests of high explosives that could trigger a nuclear weapon. Iran long has insisted its nuclear program is peaceful, though the IAEA, Western intelligence agencies and others say Tehran had an active weapons program up until 2003.
The other damage could be seen at the nearby Khojir military base, which analysts believe hides an underground tunnel system and missile production sites.
Iran’s military has not acknowledged damage at either Khojir or Parchin from Israel’s attack early Saturday, though it has said the assault killed four Iranian soldiers working in the country’s air defense systems.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Israeli military declined to comment.
However, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday told an audience that the Israeli attack “should not be exaggerated nor downplayed,” while stopping short of calling for an immediate retaliatory strike. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu separately said Sunday that Israel’s strikes “severely harmed” Iran and that the barrage “achieved all its goals.”
"What? What?What?" -- The 14th Doctor
It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
Iran's military issued a carefully worded statement on Saturday night stating that, while it held the right to retaliate, a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon trumps any reciprocity against Israel.
They liked fighting the way they have been fighting. This was getting too close to home.
I'm sick of Iran turning distant desperate populations into their cover for launching their attacks.
I'm sick of Israel attacking those desperate populations when it's Iran that's behind it all.
I’m with you on much this Unagi, and I think you are highlighting something that drives me nuts: The way Iran has been using the Palestinians (and the Lebanese to some extent) as pawns in its own Machiavellian strategy. Iran’s regime puts nothing on the line, while its proxies ruin the lives of civilian populations a thousand miles away. It sucks. And I don’t know why the global community allows them to get away with it. Why do we let the mullahs in Tehran act with impunity? Neutralizing the Iranians is a gating activity if we ever want to see peace in the Middle East.
That said, I think you are ignoring the Palestinian’s own hand in their current plight. Without going down a rabbit hole of blame (there’s plenty to go around for both Israel and the Palestinians), there have been numerous choices that the Palestinians have made where they have clung to a maximalist approach to a resolution, one that Israel could never accept. Their “perfect” has definitely been the enemy of their “good,” and they own that.
So, yeah, 100% with you that Iran is a bad actor of the worst sort and that its control over its proxies must be severed. That’s a first and important step. But then we need the Palestinians (and Israelis) to come to grips with the fact that no one is going to get everything they want, and people on both sides need to silence the assholes on each side that keep clamoring for that.
Just 'cause you feel it, doesn't mean it's there -- Radiohead
Do you believe me? Do you trust me? Do you like me? 😳
Seems Iran needs a good beating. They've needed it since the 80s.
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I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake. http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
When in doubt, skewer it out...I don't know.
Daehawk wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 1:47 pm
Seems Iran needs a good beating. They've needed it since the 80s.
Because violence in the Middle East has worked out great so far...
They have not been touched by it all. They over threw their government and went back into women haters r us mode and sit there tossing hate and strife at everyone while daring anyone to poke them. Iran is a stain in the middle east that does nothing for good. Its purpose seems to be to keep everyone angry with everyone. I think if Iran was removed there would be a lot more ways to foster peace in that tumultuous region.
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake. http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
When in doubt, skewer it out...I don't know.
Daehawk wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 1:47 pm
Seems Iran needs a good beating. They've needed it since the 80s.
Because violence in the Middle East has worked out great so far...
They have not been touched by it all. They over threw their government and went back into women haters r us mode and sit there tossing hate and strife at everyone while daring anyone to poke them. Iran is a stain in the middle east that does nothing for good. Its purpose seems to be to keep everyone angry with everyone. I think if Iran was removed there would be a lot more ways to foster peace in that tumultuous region.
How do you "remove" Iran without inflicting terrible suffering on millions of Iranians who are in no way responsible for the crimes of the regime?
Israel is currently attempting to remove Hamas. It's not going great, and it's not going to bring peace.
1. Vaporize it, along with 90 million civilians.
2. Invade it, take full control, hold off all of their allies indefinitely, and turn it into Happy Fun Land. Note that if you ever leave, it'll be right back where it started in a month.
3. Bury them in sanctions and restrictions, and try to keep them in their own yard until things change and either their own government becomes more moderate, or the population gets sick of that shit. Quietly support said population's coup.
4. Wait until climate change makes the entire area unlivable, then deal with the biggest refugee crisis in history.
Note for the inevitable criticism: This was not a serious attempt at finding solutions to an unsolvable problems. It was an attempt to point out how unsolvable the whole thing is.
Its not unsolvable. The Iranian peoples..the younger ones..are ready for change. They dont hate Israel..they hate their own government.
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I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake. http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
When in doubt, skewer it out...I don't know.
Yeah, if the Ayatollahs were ever forced to have free and fair elections, odds are there would be a peaceful regime change in Iran and the Middle East would be much, much better off for it. That's the true dream scenario that would dramatically help the overall situation.
The problem is that that's years to decades in the horizon most likely, and there's essentially nothing that Israel can do (and little that the U.S. can do) to force that.
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake. http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
When in doubt, skewer it out...I don't know.
All I know is that after Afghanistan and Iraq, I don't think anyone has much appetite for imposing regime change from the outside, and the entire point of the IRGC (and the Basij in particular) is to ensure that it doesn't happen from the inside.
Depending on things go next week, of course, I wouldn't rule out Emperor Trump having a go at it.
"What? What?What?" -- The 14th Doctor
It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
Daehawk wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2024 3:47 pm
I dont know. Sometimes these things move quickly.
They never move quickly until they suddenly move quickly.
"Slowly, slowly, then all at once."
" Hey OP, listen to my advice alright." -Tha General "No scientific discovery is named after its original discoverer." -Stigler's Law of Eponymy, discovered by Robert K. Merton MYT
Max Peck wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2024 4:24 pm
All I know is that after Afghanistan and Iraq, I don't think anyone has much appetite for imposing regime change from the outside, and the entire point of the IRGC (and the Basij in particular) is to ensure that it doesn't happen from the inside.
Depending on things go next week, of course, I wouldn't rule out Emperor Trump having a go at it.
Max Peck wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2024 4:24 pm
All I know is that after Afghanistan and Iraq, I don't think anyone has much appetite for imposing regime change from the outside, and the entire point of the IRGC (and the Basij in particular) is to ensure that it doesn't happen from the inside.
Depending on things go next week, of course, I wouldn't rule out Emperor Trump having a go at it.
Haven't you heard, he's the peace candidate.
Aww I thought for a sec you said 'pieces'.
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake. http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
When in doubt, skewer it out...I don't know.
El Guapo wrote:Yeah, if the Ayatollahs were ever forced to have free and fair elections, odds are there would be a peaceful regime change in Iran and the Middle East would be much, much better off for it. That's the true dream scenario that would dramatically help the overall situation.
The problem is that that's years to decades in the horizon most likely, and there's essentially nothing that Israel can do (and little that the U.S. can do) to force that.
Would it? Don't forget how corrupt oh, every other middle east country is, as well as Iran before the revolution.
We can also see what Trump did to the Kurds when he was president. Russia were the ones who slowed a genocide...
Max Peck wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2024 4:24 pm
All I know is that after Afghanistan and Iraq, I don't think anyone has much appetite for imposing regime change from the outside, and the entire point of the IRGC (and the Basij in particular) is to ensure that it doesn't happen from the inside.
Depending on things go next week, of course, I wouldn't rule out Emperor Trump having a go at it.
Haven't you heard, he's the peace candidate.
But they have so much oil to keep!
"What? What?What?" -- The 14th Doctor
It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
Max Peck wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2024 4:24 pm
All I know is that after Afghanistan and Iraq, I don't think anyone has much appetite for imposing regime change from the outside, and the entire point of the IRGC (and the Basij in particular) is to ensure that it doesn't happen from the inside.
Depending on things go next week, of course, I wouldn't rule out Emperor Trump having a go at it.
Haven't you heard, he's the peace candidate.
For Trump, peace in the Middle East means allowing Bibi to exterminate, cleanse, or expel all Palestinians. And peace in Europe means letting Putin have Ukraine while the US quits NATO.
Trump will buy peace by surrendering America’s world leadership — and economic power. It would cause financial ruin.
"A lie can run round the world before the truth has got its boots on." -Terry Pratchett, The Truth "The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to those who think they've found it." -Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment
Zarathud wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2024 7:44 pm
Trump will buy peace by surrendering America’s world leadership — and economic power. It would cause financial ruin.
financial ruin for most of us. Trump will be dead before it ruins him tho (and his kids will piss it all away, except Kushner, who will do pretty well, IMHO).
As to Trump surrendering? Yeah - again, just look at the kurds, and the Russian Flags flying over former American Airbases in Syria from when he was President again. Palestinians will be worse off than the Kurds.
Black Lives definitely Matter Lorini!
Also: There are three ways to not tell the truth: lies, damned lies, and statistics.
He's also the head of party that only cares about and want peace in Ukraine and the middle east if they win. Otherwise they will withhold their plan. Just like they did with repealing and replacing the ACA, the worst healthcare in history, before they achieved Congress and the Presidency and then gave up better cheaper healthcare for all in the first 100 days of the 2016 term.
LordMortis wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2024 8:32 am
He's also the head of party that only cares about and want peace in Ukraine and the middle east if they win. Otherwise they will withhold their plan. Just like they did with repealing and replacing the ACA, the worst healthcare in history, before they achieved Congress and the Presidency and then gave up better cheaper healthcare for all in the first 100 days of the 2016 term.
They don't actually care about peace in Ukraine/Middle East. They care about Putin and Bibi doing what they want and supporting them (they will sell out US interests that cheaply). When one looks at it as if Putin is richer than Musk (he was, at least before the sanctions), then it makes sense.
and when Trump kills the sanctions, then the Putin/Russian money will be flowing again, tho I doubt that Putin has the stomach to invade Poland as he probably intended when he thought Ukraine would fall in a couple of weeks and that the US would bail on NATO and the weakness of the Russian Army wasn't known.
Black Lives definitely Matter Lorini!
Also: There are three ways to not tell the truth: lies, damned lies, and statistics.
Israel's parliament voted Monday to ban the operations of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, the main humanitarian aid agency operating in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated accusations that UNRWA employees are involved in terrorist activities in the region in a statement about the legislation. An investigation by the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services closed in August, debunking some allegations and noting that others lacked sufficient evidence.
However, the agency said nine employees may have been involved in the Oct. 7 terrorist attack against Israel if evidence was "authenticated and corroborated." UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said their contracts would be terminated.
Netanyahu's office said Monday that UNRWA personnel "must be held accountable."
"In the 90 days before this legislation goes into effect — and after — we stand ready to work with our international partners to ensure that Israel continues to facilitate humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza in a manner that does not threaten Israel’s security," the statement said.
