Showing posts with label Iran War. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iran War. Show all posts
Sunday, March 22, 2026
Trump Threatens Iran with Huge Attack If Hormuz Does Not Reopen within 48 Hours
THE GUARDIAN: The United States of America will hit and obliterate Iran’s various power plants, starting with the biggest one first. Click here to read more | Sunday, March 22, 2026
Iran War: Why Political Assassinations Often Fail | Ben Macintyre
Mar 21, 2026 | “If you start knocking off the big fish, you may end up getting people even more fanatical”
Targeted assassinations may weaken leadership in the short term, but often fail to deliver lasting change and can even harden resistance, says The Times’s associate editor and columnist Ben Macintyre.
Targeted assassinations may weaken leadership in the short term, but often fail to deliver lasting change and can even harden resistance, says The Times’s associate editor and columnist Ben Macintyre.
Iran Launches Attack on Israel’s Top Secret Nuclear Facility in Negev Desert | BBC News
Mar 21, 2026 | Iranian missiles have struck an Israeli town housing the country’s top secret nuclear facility, believed to be the site of its nuclear weapons arsenal. The Shimon Perez Negev Nuclear Research Centre contains a nuclear reactor and is close to the town of Dimona in the Negev desert in southern Israel.
Around 100 people are reported to have been injured in Dimona, when the missiles hit residential buildings. There are unconfirmed reports of multiple deaths. Injuries and deaths were also reported in the southern Israeli city of Arad. Iran said the strike on Dimona was in retaliation for an Israeli attack earlier in the day on its nuclear facilities at Natanz. Iran's nuclear agency said the site had come under attack but there had been no leakage of radioactivity.
Iran’s state news agency said: “The enemy has once again received an unforgettable lesson. The missile attack on the Dimona area has once again sent a clear message: No area is safe from Iranian missiles. The enemy must surrender before it is too late.”
The United Arab Emirates also reported many people injured there in the latest missile attacks by Iran. The UAE’s defence ministry said it had intercepted hundreds of missiles. Israel and the US have continued their airstrikes on Iran’s capital Tehran, while US Central Command said it had degraded Iran's ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
G7 foreign ministers have issued a statement calling for an “immediate end” to Iranian strikes in the Gulf region. They also said they were prepared to take measures to protect global energy supplies.
Jane Hill presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Joe Inwood, Esyllt Carr and Damian Grammaticas.
Around 100 people are reported to have been injured in Dimona, when the missiles hit residential buildings. There are unconfirmed reports of multiple deaths. Injuries and deaths were also reported in the southern Israeli city of Arad. Iran said the strike on Dimona was in retaliation for an Israeli attack earlier in the day on its nuclear facilities at Natanz. Iran's nuclear agency said the site had come under attack but there had been no leakage of radioactivity.
Iran’s state news agency said: “The enemy has once again received an unforgettable lesson. The missile attack on the Dimona area has once again sent a clear message: No area is safe from Iranian missiles. The enemy must surrender before it is too late.”
The United Arab Emirates also reported many people injured there in the latest missile attacks by Iran. The UAE’s defence ministry said it had intercepted hundreds of missiles. Israel and the US have continued their airstrikes on Iran’s capital Tehran, while US Central Command said it had degraded Iran's ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
G7 foreign ministers have issued a statement calling for an “immediate end” to Iranian strikes in the Gulf region. They also said they were prepared to take measures to protect global energy supplies.
Jane Hill presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Joe Inwood, Esyllt Carr and Damian Grammaticas.
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Iran War Will End in US Strategic Failure: Why the UK Keeps ‘Well Clear’ of Conflict | Sean Bell
Mar 21, 2026 | “America will walk away having achieved a military victory but a strategic failure.”
The British government and military are trying to “keep well clear” of the conflict in Iran as it’s an “unwinnable war”, says former RAF Air Vice Marshall Sean Bell.
The British government and military are trying to “keep well clear” of the conflict in Iran as it’s an “unwinnable war”, says former RAF Air Vice Marshall Sean Bell.
Trump Has Underestimated Iran: They Are 'Shaping How This War Is Progressing' | Tobias Ellwood
Mar 21, 2026 | "Any expert would be able to tell you just how impregnable their regime would be."
Iran targeted Diego Garcia with weapons systems we didn't know they had which is just one example of "how long they have been preparing for a potential attack from America", says defence and security commentator, Tobias Ellwood.
Iran targeted Diego Garcia with weapons systems we didn't know they had which is just one example of "how long they have been preparing for a potential attack from America", says defence and security commentator, Tobias Ellwood.
Could the US Lose the War in Iran?
Mar 21, 2026 | Is the United States really winning the war against Iran—or is the situation more complicated than it seems? Despite massive airstrikes and thousands of Iranian targets destroyed, Iran continues to launch drone attacks, strike oil infrastructure, and disrupt global shipping.
How is a country with far fewer military resources still able to challenge the world’s most powerful military? Anthony Davis breaks down the strategy behind modern asymmetric warfare—where weaker nations use cheap drones, missiles, and strategic geography to impose huge costs on stronger opponents. He also explores how the Strait of Hormuz, global oil markets, and economic pressure could play a decisive role in the conflict, as Trump begs former allies for assistance.
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.
How is a country with far fewer military resources still able to challenge the world’s most powerful military? Anthony Davis breaks down the strategy behind modern asymmetric warfare—where weaker nations use cheap drones, missiles, and strategic geography to impose huge costs on stronger opponents. He also explores how the Strait of Hormuz, global oil markets, and economic pressure could play a decisive role in the conflict, as Trump begs former allies for assistance.
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.
Iran Strike Shock — Oil Markets in Total Panic | Prof Jeffrey Sachs
Professor Sachs’ voice is one of the few sane voices in the bedlam which has been caused by this illegal and quite unnecessary war on Iran. Would that he were not so alone. — © Mark Alexander
UK Approves US Use of British Bases as Trump Considers 'Winding Down' War in Iran | BBC News
Mar 21, 2026 | The UK has agreed to allow the US to use British bases to launch strikes on Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump said the UK "should have acted a lot faster", while Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed Sir Keir was "putting British lives in danger”.
Trump also said the US is considering “winding down” operations against Iran, but that other nations must guard the Strait of Hormuz - a vital shipping lane for oil.
But Iran’s foreign minister has said "it does not appear that the United States is prepared to halt its aggression".
It was only a matter of time before the WEAK STARMER would bend to Trump's ridiculous demands and allow Britain to be dragged into this illegal and brutal war. Shame on Starmer!
Further, if Israel is allowed nuclear weapons, then why should Iran not be allowed them too? We have all seen how reckless Israel has been in recent years. A GENOCIDE has taken place in Gaza, and now in this BRUTAL Iran war, Iranians are being killed with gay abandon. Fact is, what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander. — © Mark Alexander
US President Donald Trump said the UK "should have acted a lot faster", while Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed Sir Keir was "putting British lives in danger”.
Trump also said the US is considering “winding down” operations against Iran, but that other nations must guard the Strait of Hormuz - a vital shipping lane for oil.
But Iran’s foreign minister has said "it does not appear that the United States is prepared to halt its aggression".
It was only a matter of time before the WEAK STARMER would bend to Trump's ridiculous demands and allow Britain to be dragged into this illegal and brutal war. Shame on Starmer!
Further, if Israel is allowed nuclear weapons, then why should Iran not be allowed them too? We have all seen how reckless Israel has been in recent years. A GENOCIDE has taken place in Gaza, and now in this BRUTAL Iran war, Iranians are being killed with gay abandon. Fact is, what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander. — © Mark Alexander
Iranian Strikes on Bases Used by US Caused $800m in Damage, New Analysis Shows
BBC: Iranian strikes on military bases used by the US in the Middle East caused about $800m (£600m) in damage in the first two weeks of the war, a new analysis shows.
Much of the damage was caused in initial retaliatory strikes by Iran in the week after the US and Israel launched the war, according to a report by the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) and an analysis by the BBC.
The full extent of the damage caused by Iranian strikes on US assets in the region is not clear.
But the $800m in estimated damage to US military infrastructure - a figure that's higher than has been previously reported - offers a picture of the steep costs to the US as the conflict drags on. » | Daniel Bush, Washington correspondent and Paul Brown & Alex Murray, BBC Verify | Friday, March 20, 2026
Much of the damage was caused in initial retaliatory strikes by Iran in the week after the US and Israel launched the war, according to a report by the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) and an analysis by the BBC.
The full extent of the damage caused by Iranian strikes on US assets in the region is not clear.
But the $800m in estimated damage to US military infrastructure - a figure that's higher than has been previously reported - offers a picture of the steep costs to the US as the conflict drags on. » | Daniel Bush, Washington correspondent and Paul Brown & Alex Murray, BBC Verify | Friday, March 20, 2026
OPINION: Trump’s Recklessness Will ‘Haunt Us for a Generation’
Friday, March 20, 2026
Hegseth Invokes Divine Purpose to Justify Military Might
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has imbued U.S. military actions with a Christian moral underpinning that suggests they are divinely sanctioned.
He spoke of “overwhelming force” and the U.S. military’s unmatched ability to rain “death and destruction from above” on its “apocalyptic” Iranian foes.
Then, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, standing in the Pentagon, issued a call to the American people for a specific kind of wartime prayer. He asked them to pray for victory in battle and the safety of their troops.
“Every day, on bended knee, with your family, in your schools, in your churches,” he said, “in the name of Jesus Christ.”
At a time when the U.S. and Israeli militaries are dropping thousands of bombs on a majority-Shiite Muslim nation, the explicitly Christian nature of Mr. Hegseth’s call stood out.
More than any top American military leader in recent history, Mr. Hegseth has framed U.S. military operations in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America as bigger than politics or foreign policy. Often he has imbued these actions with a Christian moral underpinning that suggests they are divinely sanctioned.
It is this view of a higher power, married to lethal American firepower, that Mr. Hegseth says gives him confidence that the United States will prevail in Iran.
“Our capabilities are better. Our will is better. Our troops are better,” he said in a recent interview with CBS News’s “60 Minutes.” “The providence of our almighty God is there protecting those troops, and we’re committed to this mission.” » | Greg Jaffe and Elizabeth Dias | Greg Jaffe writes about the expansion of the U.S. military under President Trump. Elizabeth Dias reports on the rise of a new Christian right in the Trump era. | Friday, March 20, 2026 | Friday, March 20, 2026
What Hegseth and the Trump regime are doing is unbelievably dangerous! By invoking divine purpose, they are turning this military misadventure into a holy war! Jesus Christ Almighty! How stupid is this? This will have grave consequences for the whole world. Where is this all going to end? How many innocent people will be killed as a result of this extremely dangerous nonsense? How many lives will be ruined? How much heartache, pain, and misery will be caused by this stupidity? — © Mark Alexander
He spoke of “overwhelming force” and the U.S. military’s unmatched ability to rain “death and destruction from above” on its “apocalyptic” Iranian foes.
Then, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, standing in the Pentagon, issued a call to the American people for a specific kind of wartime prayer. He asked them to pray for victory in battle and the safety of their troops.
“Every day, on bended knee, with your family, in your schools, in your churches,” he said, “in the name of Jesus Christ.”
At a time when the U.S. and Israeli militaries are dropping thousands of bombs on a majority-Shiite Muslim nation, the explicitly Christian nature of Mr. Hegseth’s call stood out.
More than any top American military leader in recent history, Mr. Hegseth has framed U.S. military operations in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America as bigger than politics or foreign policy. Often he has imbued these actions with a Christian moral underpinning that suggests they are divinely sanctioned.
It is this view of a higher power, married to lethal American firepower, that Mr. Hegseth says gives him confidence that the United States will prevail in Iran.
“Our capabilities are better. Our will is better. Our troops are better,” he said in a recent interview with CBS News’s “60 Minutes.” “The providence of our almighty God is there protecting those troops, and we’re committed to this mission.” » | Greg Jaffe and Elizabeth Dias | Greg Jaffe writes about the expansion of the U.S. military under President Trump. Elizabeth Dias reports on the rise of a new Christian right in the Trump era. | Friday, March 20, 2026 | Friday, March 20, 2026
What Hegseth and the Trump regime are doing is unbelievably dangerous! By invoking divine purpose, they are turning this military misadventure into a holy war! Jesus Christ Almighty! How stupid is this? This will have grave consequences for the whole world. Where is this all going to end? How many innocent people will be killed as a result of this extremely dangerous nonsense? How many lives will be ruined? How much heartache, pain, and misery will be caused by this stupidity? — © Mark Alexander
Trump Decries Nato Allies as ‘Cowards’ as Strait of Hormuz Impasse Goes On
THE GUARDIAN: Comments come amid reports US is preparing to send three more warships and thousands more troops to Middle East
Donald Trump has called Nato allies “cowards” for not wanting to “help open” the strait of Hormuz, with the US reportedly preparing to send three more warships and thousands more troops to the Middle East amid fears about the economic damage being caused by the war on Iran.
The US is reportedly considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran’s strategically crucial Kharg Island to pressure Tehran to reopen the strait.
The reports from US media organisations emerged as Iran’s military threatened it would “hunt down” officials and military commanders from the United States and Israel wherever it could find them in the world including at world tourist destinations.
“We are watching your cowardly officials and commanders, pilots and wicked soldiers,” the Iranian armed forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi said, quoted by state TV. “From now on, based on the information we have on you, the promenades, resorts and tourist and entertainment centres in the world will not be safe.”
The reports that Washington is considering plans to occupy or blockade Kharg Island come despite earlier suggestions by Trump that he was not leaning towards putting “boots on the ground”. » | Peter Beaumont | Senior international correspondent | Friday, March 20, 2026
The draft dodger must be about the most hated man on the planet! In this war, he’s up over his head. He is the cause of misery and suffering on an epic scale, but he seems neither to know it nor to understand the screw-up he has made. In any case, he is utterly insouciant about it all, expecting others to help him clean up the mess he himself has created. Surprisingly, he doesn’t seem to realize that he has brought the world to the brink of catastrophe. A deep depression and even a world war could well ensue from his reckless military excursions into the unknown. — © Mark Alexander
Donald Trump has called Nato allies “cowards” for not wanting to “help open” the strait of Hormuz, with the US reportedly preparing to send three more warships and thousands more troops to the Middle East amid fears about the economic damage being caused by the war on Iran.
The US is reportedly considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran’s strategically crucial Kharg Island to pressure Tehran to reopen the strait.
The reports from US media organisations emerged as Iran’s military threatened it would “hunt down” officials and military commanders from the United States and Israel wherever it could find them in the world including at world tourist destinations.
“We are watching your cowardly officials and commanders, pilots and wicked soldiers,” the Iranian armed forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi said, quoted by state TV. “From now on, based on the information we have on you, the promenades, resorts and tourist and entertainment centres in the world will not be safe.”
The reports that Washington is considering plans to occupy or blockade Kharg Island come despite earlier suggestions by Trump that he was not leaning towards putting “boots on the ground”. » | Peter Beaumont | Senior international correspondent | Friday, March 20, 2026
The draft dodger must be about the most hated man on the planet! In this war, he’s up over his head. He is the cause of misery and suffering on an epic scale, but he seems neither to know it nor to understand the screw-up he has made. In any case, he is utterly insouciant about it all, expecting others to help him clean up the mess he himself has created. Surprisingly, he doesn’t seem to realize that he has brought the world to the brink of catastrophe. A deep depression and even a world war could well ensue from his reckless military excursions into the unknown. — © Mark Alexander
What the Attacks Oil & Gas Facilities in the Middle East Mean for Global Energy Security | DW News
Can the UAE Recover from the Iran War?
How Trump's Plan to End the Iran War Differs from Netanyahu | Richard Spencer
Mar 20, 2026 | “Even if Trump did voluntarily and wholeheartedly go into this war, they might have different visions of how to end it, and that’s becoming an important point.”
Amid growing signs the US and Israel are not aligned on their aims for the Iran war, The Times’s Richard Spencer lays out the “two very different ways” Trump and Netanyahu are campaigning to proceed with in the conflict.
Amid growing signs the US and Israel are not aligned on their aims for the Iran war, The Times’s Richard Spencer lays out the “two very different ways” Trump and Netanyahu are campaigning to proceed with in the conflict.
Thursday, March 19, 2026
“Brazen Aggression!” Norman Finkelstein vs Jonathan Conricus on Israel-Lebanon Operation + Iran War
Mar 19, 2026 | Israel has launched a ground operation in Lebanon, opening a major second front in its war against Iran and its proxies - raising the stakes in an already volatile region.
While the risks of escalation are enormous, some argue the potential strategic gains for Israel are just as significant: reduced threats from hostile neighbours, stronger ties with Gulf states, and an even more dominant position in the region militarily and politically.
As the conflict intensifies, questions are mounting over the role of the United States. President Donald Trump, who campaigned on a promise of peace, now faces criticism for backing a costly and controversial war - one that could carry serious political consequences at home.
At the same time, divisions are growing across political and media circles, with prominent voices fiercely debating the motivations behind the war and the extent to which U.S. interests align with Israel’s objectives.
Piers Morgan is joined by political scientist Professor John Mearsheimer for his analysis on the conflict. Piers then speaks to activist Norman Finkelstein and retired lieutenant colonel and IDF international spokesman Jonathan Conricus.
While the risks of escalation are enormous, some argue the potential strategic gains for Israel are just as significant: reduced threats from hostile neighbours, stronger ties with Gulf states, and an even more dominant position in the region militarily and politically.
As the conflict intensifies, questions are mounting over the role of the United States. President Donald Trump, who campaigned on a promise of peace, now faces criticism for backing a costly and controversial war - one that could carry serious political consequences at home.
At the same time, divisions are growing across political and media circles, with prominent voices fiercely debating the motivations behind the war and the extent to which U.S. interests align with Israel’s objectives.
Piers Morgan is joined by political scientist Professor John Mearsheimer for his analysis on the conflict. Piers then speaks to activist Norman Finkelstein and retired lieutenant colonel and IDF international spokesman Jonathan Conricus.
Iran Says It Will Show ‘Zero Restraint’ If Energy Infrastructure Is Targeted Again
THE GUARDIAN: Foreign minister issues warning after Israeli attack on South Pars gasfield and as Qatar reels from retaliatory strike
Iran said on Thursday it would show “zero restraint” if its energy infrastructure was targeted again as Qatar revealed that almost a fifth of its liquefied natural gas export capacity had been knocked out in an Iranian strike that is likely to have a years-long impact.
The warning, delivered by the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, followed Israel’s attack on Iran’s massive South Pars gasfield – which it shares with Qatar – which triggered Iranian retaliatory strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan gas complex and other Gulf neighbours, sending stock markets tumbling globally and triggering sharp increases in gas prices.
Ras Laffan supplies about 20% of the world’s liquefied natural gas. Israel also confirmed on Thursday that the Bazan Group refinery in Haifa had been hit and damaged in a claimed Iranian strike.
Araghchi said in a post on X: “Our response to Israel’s attack on our infrastructure employed FRACTION of our power. The ONLY reason for restraint was respect for requested de-escalation. ZERO restraint if our infrastructures are struck again.” » | Peter Beaumont, Lorenzo Tondo in Jerusalem and Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Dubai | Thursday, March 19, 2026
Iran said on Thursday it would show “zero restraint” if its energy infrastructure was targeted again as Qatar revealed that almost a fifth of its liquefied natural gas export capacity had been knocked out in an Iranian strike that is likely to have a years-long impact.
The warning, delivered by the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, followed Israel’s attack on Iran’s massive South Pars gasfield – which it shares with Qatar – which triggered Iranian retaliatory strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan gas complex and other Gulf neighbours, sending stock markets tumbling globally and triggering sharp increases in gas prices.
Ras Laffan supplies about 20% of the world’s liquefied natural gas. Israel also confirmed on Thursday that the Bazan Group refinery in Haifa had been hit and damaged in a claimed Iranian strike.
Araghchi said in a post on X: “Our response to Israel’s attack on our infrastructure employed FRACTION of our power. The ONLY reason for restraint was respect for requested de-escalation. ZERO restraint if our infrastructures are struck again.” » | Peter Beaumont, Lorenzo Tondo in Jerusalem and Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Dubai | Thursday, March 19, 2026
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