Iran Super Thread- Merged

[Cloud Cover]

Is that the SSGN that was spotted surfaced in the Med transferring special operations assets aboard?

I don’t know.

Edit: with the 1\4 rule, at most there could be 2 lurking. The USN supposedly only has 4 of them.

 

[ytz]

But, yes, the headlines will be that the US and Israel retreat with their tails between their legs.

And they're right so far.

Let's recap. 5 weeks, $50B spent, and a dozen casualties. To give Iran control of the Strait. And that's exactly how the rest of the world, notably people and governments in the region see this.

The administration can define whatever criteria they want. If the war leaves everybody else worse off, those other parties will not see it as success. And that's aside from the difference between tactical and strategic victory.

Question. Do you think the US and NATO won in Afghanistan?

 

[OldSolduer]

Question. Do you think the US and NATO won in Afghanistan?

No. We lost despite winning every battle or at least most.

I am still pissed that we gave 158 lives for what?

 

[ytz]

No. We lost despite winning every battle or at least most.

I am still pissed that we gave 158 lives for what?

Exactly. How many Taliban and Al Qaeda leaders were killed? How many bombmakers were killed? How many training camps destroyed? How many weapons seized and destroyed? Tactically the coalition dominated.

And yet the Taliban is back in power. Worse for us, the Americans are absolutely ungrateful for everything we did.

Brad's assertion reminds me of the difference between MOPs and MOEs. Counting how many bombs you dropped doesn't actually tell you if you're winning. It may tell you that you're killing the enemy. But that may or may not be related to winning.

 

[rmc_wannabe]

Exactly. How many Taliban and Al Qaeda leaders were killed? How many bombmakers were killed? How many training camps destroyed? How many weapons seized and destroyed? Tactically the coalition dominated.

The same way the U.S. and it's partners dominated in Vietnam

And yet the Taliban is back in power. Worse for us, the Americans are absolutely ungrateful for everything we did.

The Taliban, frankly, waited out the end game. The ANDSF had no chance to put up a credible defence, and that was due to the decisions of DJT to "make a deal" and end U.S. support to the Kabul government.

The current U.S. administration is twisting the knife now to justify their place as pariahs within the international communit. Most Americans with a connection to the Afghan mission know who we were, what we did there, and are grateful for our efforts and sacrifice.

Brad's assertion reminds me of the difference between MOPs and MOEs. Counting how many bombs you dropped doesn't actually tell you if you're winning. It may tell you that you're killing the enemy. But that may or may not be related to winning.

100%

If wars were won by stacking bodies alone, history would be very different.

The breaking of your enemy's will to fight is the primary objective; and here are many ways to do that. I think Iran putting the West's nuts in a vise economically has demonstrated that perfectly

 

[brihard]

It looks like Iran shot down an F-15E Strike Eagle (two seater) and a combat search and rescue is underway.

A thread with various photos of wreckage:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039935273140883572

Unit logo on the wreckage matches an F-15E from the 494th fighter squadron based out of RAF lakenheath:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039995565790875698

Photo purporting to be an F-15 ejection seat found by a Iranian civilians.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2040026430625784217

Video purporting to be HC-130 and HH-60 combat search and rescue aircraft operating low over Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, Iran:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2040028287737479550

Video purporting to be a C-130 doing low passes 50km inside Iran:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2040025850607718477

Claimed location of the last video:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

maps.app.goo.gl

All in all, looks legit. All we can hope is that the crew are recovered safely. I.S. Forces in theatre will do anything and everything they can.

I’ll note that Iran appears to have successfully shot down an F-15, but the CSAR crews are operating low and slow in the same area. One can only imagine how much very lethal top cover they have to reduce risk to the rescue crews.

It’s a race against time for both sides to find and secure the crew. Iranian custody as a Strike Eagle crew would probably be one of the worst situations in the world right now know.