Iran Super Thread- Merged

[ytz]

Has anything big gone BOOM yet in Iran? Really big booms only...

I'm hedging oil today because I think this weekend might be it. Everything is in place. All the EW and ISR assets are in there. They moved GBAD to cover the Saudi oilfields. Carrier is in the Arabian Sea. Weather is good. Crews have rested. Lunar cycle is early for anybody wanting to maximize night advantage.

Then again with Trump, he's more likely to eat the chess pieces than to flip the board. So who knows.

 

[brihard]

The U.S. State Deartment has ordered all non-essential staff out of Lebanon. They may be expecting Hezbollah to get active soon?

Technical Difficulties

 

[Colin Parkinson]

The U.S. State Deartment has ordered all non-essential staff out of Lebanon. They may be expecting Hezbollah to get active soon?

Technical Difficulties

Not sure how much reach Hezbollah has these days and they have to think "What are the chances we are going to get resupplied"

 

[daftandbarmy]

NATO job …. Be the next Muscles in Brussels!

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[OldSolduer]

NATO job …. Be the next Muscles in Brussels!

Fabulous people needed to apply to join our NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG) team NATO The recruitment is out for our NIAG committee lead - take a look at the full job description in the… | Zoe White

Fabulous people needed to apply to join our NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG) team NATO The recruitment is out for our NIAG committee lead - take a look at the full job description in the link… 🇧🇪 Based in Brussels, travel across the Alliance with our active and quite brilliant...

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I'm fabulous - in my own mind.

 

[brihard]

USS Gerald Ford is now in the eastern med, docked in Crete. Quite a packed looking flight deck.

USS Gerald Ford R. Carrier Docks in Crete (pics) - tovima.com

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest U.S. aircraft carrier in the world, docked in Crete to refuel before deploying to the Middle East, amid rising

www.tovima.com

Meanwhile, a squadron of F-22s that moved to the U.K. is still sitting at Lakenheath as of earlier today... I'd expect to see them move to the AOR before things kick off.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Precautions being actioned... in Lebanon


US partially evacuates Beirut embassy amid rising Iran tensions
6 hours ago

The US government has ordered all non-essential staff to leave its embassy in the Lebanese capital of Beirut after a security review, a senior State Department official has told the BBC.

The decision comes as there are heightened tensions in the region, with US President Donald Trump threatening military action against Iran if it does not reach a deal over its nuclear programme.

Iran has previously vowed to retaliate if attacked by the US, with American bases and facilities in the Middle East thought to be possible targets.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has delayed a planned trip to Israel without announcing a reason.

A senior State Department official said: "We continuously assess the security environment, and based on our latest review, we determined it prudent to reduce our footprint to essential personnel.

"The embassy remains operational with core staff in place. This is a temporary measure intended to ensure the safety of our personnel while maintaining our ability to operate and assist US citizens."

About 50 members of US embassy staff have been ordered to leave, with 32 staff members and their families flying out of Beirut airport on Monday, an airport official told Reuters news agency.

A precise reason has not been given for the partial evacuation, but it comes after Trump said "bad things" would happen if Iran did not reach an agreement over its nuclear programme.

The rhetoric has sparked fears of possible retaliation from Tehran, with Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, posting messages to social media threatening US forces.

Washington holds the Lebanon-based group Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, responsible for the deadly bombings of a US Marine barracks and the embassy in Beirut in 1983.

US partially evacuates embassy in Lebanon amid rising Iran tensions

The State Department has ordered non-essential staff to leave the embassy in Beirut after a security review.

www.bbc.com

 

[brihard]

USS Gerald Ford is now in the eastern med, docked in Crete. Quite a packed looking flight deck.

USS Gerald Ford R. Carrier Docks in Crete (pics) - tovima.com

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest U.S. aircraft carrier in the world, docked in Crete to refuel before deploying to the Middle East, amid rising

www.tovima.com

Meanwhile, a squadron of F-22s that moved to the U.K. is still sitting at Lakenheath as of earlier today... I'd expect to see them move to the AOR before things kick off.

Looks like that last squadron of F-22s have started their move from the UK to the Middle East.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Looks like that last squadron of F-22s have started their move from the UK to the Middle East.

When’s the State of the Union Address?

 

[OldSolduer]

About to be big kabooms?

 

[brihard]

When’s the State of the Union Address?

2100 eastern. And Sec State Marco Rubio is briefing congressional leadership on Iran hours prior.

With the F-22s still transiting and USS Gerald Ford still docked in Souda it’ll probably be just a couple more days yet. Probably not much longer if it’s gonna happen.

 

[Czech_pivo]

2100 eastern. And Sec State Marco Rubio is briefing congressional leadership on Iran hours prior.

With the F-22s still transiting and USS Gerald Ford still docked in Souda it’ll probably be just a couple more days yet. Probably not much longer if it’s gonna happen.

Understood.
Just read that GF will remain in Crete for 4 days for refueling and such. If that's true, then it most be a bit longer, maybe in the 6-8 days. Will they anchor of Lebanon or will they transit the Suez and round the Gulf of Aden before anything kicks off.

World’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford reaches Crete

Washington has built up its biggest military presence in the Middle East in decades as it pushes Iran for concessions on its nuclear programme.

www.euronews.com

 

[YZT580]

Understood.
Just read that GF will remain in Crete for 4 days for refueling and such. If that's true, then it most be a bit longer, maybe in the 6-8 days. Will they anchor of Lebanon or will they transit the Suez and round the Gulf of Aden before anything kicks off.

World’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford reaches Crete

Washington has built up its biggest military presence in the Middle East in decades as it pushes Iran for concessions on its nuclear programme.

www.euronews.com

Wouldn't transiting to the Gulf place them in a far more vulnerable position should Iran go for a pre-emptive first strike with a massive simultaneous launch? If the Iranians feel they are backed into a corner they just might commit and for the Ford, once they were in the Suez they would be a sitting duck.