The War on Terror /Central Asia/Mid East/Africa thread

[doug rr]

here we go....

[96583UP]

i had plans to go to a persian restaurant last night but decided to do mexican instead cause i was like 'is it gonna be weird in there if the bombs start dropping during dinner?'

they would prob be rooting for it though

stupid aytollah

[Stickman]

Standing by to see gas prices next week

[Anders]

[Stickman]

IRAN WAR — DAY 6. Here's 10 Latest Updates You Should Probably Know...

1. Iran struck a Bahrain oil refinery. Directly. Successfully.

A missile hit a state-run oil refinery in Bahrain on Day 6. Fire broke out. The refinery continued operating — but barely.

Iran is no longer just targeting US military bases.

They are targeting energy infrastructure. Deliberately. Systematically.

2. Amazon's data centers are offline. All three.

Iran deliberately struck 3 Amazon Web Services data centers — 2 in the UAE, 1 in Bahrain.

All three are down.

Iran's state media confirmed it was intentional — targeting AWS for its "support of US military and intelligence activities."

This is the first time in history a major US tech company's data centers have been taken out by military action.

Banks, government systems, and businesses across the Middle East are offline.

The internet is now a battlefield.

3. Both the House AND Senate voted to let Trump continue the war without approval.

The Senate voted 47-53 to block Trump's war powers. Failed.

The House then voted 212-219. Also failed.

Both chambers of Congress have now given Trump a free hand.

This war has no expiration date from Capitol Hill.

4. An Iranian warship has been interned in Sri Lanka. First time since World War II.

After the US Navy sank the IRIS Dena frigate off Sri Lanka's coast, the Iranian tanker IRIS Bushehr — with 208 crew — was intercepted and interned by the Sri Lankan Navy.

A neutral country has now detained an Iranian warship and its crew.

The last time this happened in world history was World War II.

Let that sink in.

5. Iran hit Azerbaijan. NATO intercepted a missile heading toward Turkey.

Iran launched drone strikes on Azerbaijan — a country not involved in this war at all.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called it a "terror act."

Separately, NATO air defenses in the eastern Mediterranean shot down an Iranian ballistic missile heading toward Turkish airspace.

This is the first Iranian missile NATO has intercepted since the conflict began.

The war is now touching NATO territory.

6. 20,000 seafarers and 15,000 cruise passengers are stranded in the Persian Gulf.

The International Maritime Organization confirmed the numbers today.

20,000 sailors. 15,000 tourists. Trapped.

The IMO Secretary General issued an emergency statement urging all shipping companies to avoid the region entirely.

7. Trump says he wants to personally choose Iran's next Supreme Leader.

"We're going to have to choose that person along with Iran," Trump told Reuters directly.

He compared it to replacing Venezuela's Maduro.

Meanwhile the IRGC announced the coming days will bring "more intense and widespread" attacks.

Trump wants to pick the leader. Iran wants to escalate the war.

8. Japan is now tapping its strategic oil reserves.

Japan gets over 90% of its oil from the Middle East.

With Hormuz virtually closed, Japanese refiners have formally asked their government to release strategic reserves.

At least one Japanese refinery has already cancelled gasoline exports scheduled for March.

The energy shock is now hitting Asia. Hard.

9. The war is costing America $1 billion per day.

Sources confirmed to NBC News — the US is burning through $1 billion a day in this conflict.

Six American service members have been killed so far.

And Brent crude is now at $82.76 a barrel — up from $73 just one week ago. Rising every single day.

10. Iran's IRGC commander just promised it gets worse from here.

An IRGC commander confirmed on Iranian state media that future attacks will be "more intense and widespread."

An Iranian ayatollah on state television called for the shedding of blood from Israelis and President Trump.

This is not de-escalation language.

This is an organization that believes it is fighting for its survival.

And survival instincts don't respond to timelines.

.

[Stickman]

IRAN WAR — DAY 7. Here's 10 Latest Updates You Should Probably Know...

1. President Trump posted two words that ended all hope of a ceasefire.

On Truth Social Friday morning: "There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!"

This came hours after Iran's president hinted that unnamed countries had begun mediation efforts.

Trump killed it instantly.

One post. Zero negotiations. The war continues.

2. Russia is now feeding Iran the locations of American troops, ships and aircraft.

The Washington Post confirmed it Friday, citing three intelligence sources.

Russia is giving Iran real-time intelligence on where US forces are positioned.

This is the first time a nuclear-armed competitor has directly intervened in this conflict.

3. Oil hit $91 a barrel. Up 24% in ONE week.

Brent crude has surged 24% since the war began on February 28th.

US oil prices up 31% in the same period.

The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed.

Oil storage tanks across the Gulf are filling up because exports have stopped.

When storage fills completely — production will have to halt.

Analysts are now warning $100 per barrel is not a question of if. It's when.

4. Israel has destroyed 80% of Iran's air defenses and 60% of its missile launchers.

Israel's Army Chief confirmed the numbers Friday.

2,500 strikes. 6,000 weapons deployed in 7 days.

The US and Israel now have what military officials are calling "near-complete air superiority" over Iran.

Iranian jets cannot fly. Iranian radar is largely gone.

But Iran is still firing. Its 23rd wave of strikes launched Friday.

5. Lebanon is collapsing. 300,000 people displaced in less than 100 hours.

Israel issued evacuation orders covering the entire southern suburbs of Beirut — home to 500,000 people.

Hundreds of villages in southern Lebanon. The entire Bekaa Valley region.

If fully implemented — over ONE MILLION people could be displaced.

"Families left in the middle of the night with nothing but the clothes they were wearing," said the Norwegian Refugee Council.

The UN is now demanding investigations into whether Israel's strikes violate international law.

6. Iran fired over 500 ballistic missiles and nearly 2,000 drones in 7 days.

Iranian military confirmed the total numbers Friday.

500+ ballistic missiles. 2,000 drones. In one week.

The rate has slowed — down 90% from Day 1 — but analysts are split on why.

Two theories:

- Iran is running low on stockpiles.

- Or Iran is rationing for a longer war.

Which one it is changes everything about how this ends.

7. The death toll just crossed 1,332 in Iran. 181 of them are children.

UNICEF confirmed 181 children killed in Iran since February 28th.

Total deaths in Iran: 1,332. Lebanon: 123. US: 6 service members.

Iran's Foreign Ministry accused the US and Israel of striking 33 civilian sites — hospitals, schools, residential buildings, the Tehran Grand Bazaar, and the historic Golestan Palace complex.

The UN called for immediate investigations.

8. Lebanon's death toll just surged. 217 killed. Nearly 800 wounded.

Israel's bombing of Lebanon has now killed at least 217 people and injured almost 800 — confirmed by Lebanon's Health Ministry.

Lebanon's Prime Minister has warned: "A humanitarian disaster is looming."

This is not a future risk. This is happening right now.

Families who barely finished rebuilding from the last war are fleeing again. With nothing.

9. China sent a special envoy to the Middle East to mediate.

China's foreign minister dispatched Zhai Jun — their senior Middle East envoy — to the region Friday.

China imports more oil from the Middle East than any country on earth.

Their crude prices jumped 10% this week.

China cannot afford this war to continue.

When China sends an envoy — pay attention.

The economic pressure on Beijing to force a resolution may be the most powerful diplomatic card on the table right now.

10. The war is now officially in its second week. No end in sight.

$3.7 billion spent in the first 100 hours alone. $891 million per day.

$3.5 billion of that was NOT budgeted. The money doesn't exist yet.

Here's a quick summary:

- Iran has fired 500+ missiles and 2,000 drones.

- Russia is feeding Iran US troop locations.

- Oil is at $91 and rising.

- 300,000 Lebanese are sleeping in the streets.

- And Trump's position is: Unconditional Surrender.

Oil at $91 was unthinkable 8 days ago.

$100 is now the base case.

[Stickman]

IRAN WAR — DAY 8. Here's 10 Latest Updates You Should Probably Know...

1. Trump posted seven words this morning that signaled pure escalation.

On Truth Social, Saturday: "Today Iran will be hit very hard!"

He also warned that certain areas and groups inside Iran are now under consideration for "complete destruction and certain death."

He didn't lay out specific demands. Just escalation.

Day 8. And it's getting worse — not better.

2. Tehran's main airport is on fire.

Israel deployed 80 fighter jets in a broad-scale wave of strikes Saturday morning. Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport — one of the city's two main airports — was hit.

The Israeli Air Force confirmed it struck 16 Iranian military aircraft there. Dramatic footage showed the airport engulfed in flames.

This isn't a remote military base.

This is a civilian airport. In a capital city. On fire.

3. For the first time, US and Israel struck Iran's oil storage and refineries.

US and Israeli forces hit oil storage depots and refining facilities in Tehran for the first time Saturday, sparking large fires across the capital.

They're no longer just targeting missiles and radar.

They're targeting the economic heart of Iran.

My rich dad always said: "When they start hitting the money infrastructure — that's when wars get decided."

4. Iran's president apologised to his neighbours. Then kept attacking them.

Pezeshkian delivered a televised apology to neighbouring Gulf nations and promised Iran would stop strikes on them — unless attacks on Iran originated from their territories.

Within hours, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE all reported fresh drone and missile attacks.

He apologised. Then attacked.

That tells you everything about how unified — or not — Iran's leadership actually is right now.

5. Iran just threatened to personally go after President Trump.

Iran's top security official Ali Larijani gave a national televised address saying Iran "will not let Trump go" and that he "must pay the price."

"He has martyred our leader and our people."

And in response to Trump's escalation warning, a senior Iranian official told CNN that Iran is now actively searching for new US assets to strike.

This just got personal.

6. Saudi Arabia intercepted drones heading toward one of the world's largest oil fields.

Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry confirmed it intercepted 16 drones heading toward Shaybah — one of the largest oil fields in the entire Middle East — in the early hours of Saturday.

Let that sink in.

They're not just attacking military bases anymore.

They're targeting the oil fields that fuel the global economy.

7. Qatar's Energy Minister issued a stark global warning.

Qatar's Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi told the Financial Times that Gulf energy exports could halt "within weeks" if the war continues.

"GDP growth around the world will be impacted. Everybody's energy price is going to go higher.

There will be shortages of some products, and there will be a chain reaction of factories that cannot supply."

That's not a blogger speculating.

That's the energy minister of one of the world's largest LNG exporters. On the record.

8. Kuwait just cut oil production. Precautionary. Effective immediately.

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation announced a precautionary cut in crude oil production and refining, saying conditions on the ground forced their hand.

Kuwait. One of OPEC's most stable producers. Cutting output.

Oil was already at $91 a barrel before this announcement.

9. Iran is choosing a new Supreme Leader. Right now. Under bombs.

Iran's Assembly of Experts is expected to choose their next Supreme Leader within the next 24 hours — even as bombs fall on Tehran.

The IRGC will play the decisive role in the selection.

Whoever they pick next will define how this war ends.

Or doesn't.

10. The US has struck 3,400 targets. Iran is still firing.

US Central Command confirmed 3,400 strikes on Iran since the war began — including two main ballistic missile production sites at Parchin and Shahrud.

43 Iranian warships sunk. Air force destroyed. Radar largely gone.

And Iran is still firing missiles at Israel. Still hitting Gulf states. Still standing.

- Tehran's airport is burning.

- Kuwait is cutting oil production.

- Qatar is warning of global supply chain collapse.

- Drones targeted one of the world's biggest oil fields this morning.

- And Trump just promised it gets worse today.

[Stickman]

Day 11.

1. The US just declared its "most intense day of strikes" on Iran. Ever.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stood at the Pentagon podium this morning and said:
"Today will be, yet again, our most intense day of strikes inside Iran. The most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes."
The Joint Chiefs confirmed the US has now hit more than 5,000 targets inside Iran since February 28th.
Iran's missile launch rate has dropped 90% from Day 1.
Their drone launch rate is down 80%.
America says Iran is "badly losing."
Let's see what happens in the coming days to see if this is true.
Iran's parliament speaker responded on X the same day:
"Certainly we aren't seeking a ceasefire."

2. Iran just started mining the Strait of Hormuz. And the US destroyed 16 mine-laying vessels.

CNN confirmed, via US intelligence sources, that Iran has begun laying naval mines inside the Strait of Hormuz.
A few dozen mines placed so far. But Iran still retains 80–90% of its mine-laying capacity.
Estimates put Iran's total mine stockpile at between 2,000 and 6,000 naval mines.
The US responded immediately. CENTCOM destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the strait.
Trump posted on Truth Social:
"If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before."
Iran's naval commander fired back, telling ships linked to "aggressors" they will not pass — and added: "If you have doubts, come closer and test it."

3. America spent $5.6 BILLION on munitions in the first 48 hours alone.
The Pentagon sent an estimate to Congress this week.
$5.6 billion. In 48 hours.
That's the cost of munitions — just for Days 1 and 2 of this war.
The Trump administration's response: "Our munitions are full up and our will is ironclad."

4. Trump is sending mixed signals. Iran is not.
Trump has called this war:
— "Short term."
— "Very complete, pretty much."
— "Very soon" to end.
— But also: "ultimate victory."
In the same week.
Iran's position has been consistent since Day 1:
Iran's parliament speaker: "Certainly we aren't seeking a ceasefire."
Iran's Foreign Minister: "We have a very bitter experience of talking with Americans."
Iran's IRGC: "Iran will determine when the war ends."
One side is negotiating with the public.
The other side is negotiating with time.

5. Iran struck a UAE oil refinery. One of the largest in the region is now on fire.
Day 11 attacks hit one of the UAE's largest oil refineries — setting it ablaze.
Bahrain: One woman killed, eight injured after an Iranian missile struck a residential building in Manama. The country has now intercepted 105 ballistic missiles and 176 drones since the war began. 105 missiles. In 11 days.
Kuwait: Six drones intercepted.
Saudi Arabia: Drone shot down east of al-Kharj.
Qatar: Five ballistic missiles intercepted overnight.
Iran is attacking every oil-producing country in the Gulf simultaneously.
And Exxon Mobil — one of the world's largest energy companies — evacuated all non-essential employees from the Middle East on Day 11.

6. Oil went from $119 to $86 in 48 hours. The volatility itself is the crisis.
Brent crude peaked at $119.50 on Day 10.
By Day 11 morning, it crashed to $86.55 — an 8.67% drop in hours — after reports that the US was considering taking control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Then it bounced back above $100 when Iran said its forces were "waiting" for US naval ships.
Wild price swings destroy planning. They freeze investment. They kill supply chain decisions.
GasBuddy analysts confirmed gas prices are unlikely to return to pre-war levels even if oil falls — because the security risk alone keeps them elevated.
The volatility IS the damage.

7. Iran's internet has been blacked out for 240 hours. One of the longest shutdowns in human history.
Cybersecurity watchdog NetBlocks confirmed that Iran's internet blackout has now crossed 240 hours continuously.
Their words: "Among the most severe government-imposed nationwide internet shutdowns on record globally."
240 hours. That's 10 full days of complete digital darkness for 90 million people.
No social media. No news. No outside communication.

8. Lebanon's death toll hit 570. 750,000 people are displaced.
Israel is simultaneously fighting on a second front — striking Hezbollah in southern Lebanon while pounding Iran.
570 people killed in Lebanon. 750,000 displaced.
France called an emergency UN Security Council meeting over Lebanon.
Israel says it's carrying out "targeted" ground raids into southern Lebanon — and is considering pushing deeper.
Israel struck command centers in Tehran AND Tabriz on Day 11.

9. America has 140 wounded service members. And the bill is only growing.
The Pentagon confirmed: 140 US service members wounded across 11 days of Operation Epic Fury.
The majority are minor injuries — but a significant number are serious.
Seven dead.

10. Australia is now sending missiles and surveillance aircraft into this war.
It started with Iranian women soccer players getting asylum.
Now Australia has formally deployed:
— A military surveillance aircraft to the Middle East.
— Missiles being sent to the UAE for its air defense.
Prime Minister Albanese confirmed both. He said Australia won't put troops on the ground.
But Australia is now supplying weapons to an active war zone.
This is no longer a US-Israel-Iran war.
30+ countries are now directly or indirectly involved.

[blueviper]

This is why you can’t run governments like businesses.

This is what you get when you put inexperienced officials into positions of power.

This is what you get when you put an imbecile in charge that can’t even run his own companies without bankrupting them.

This is what happens when ignorance wins over intellectualism and expertise.

[washing machine]

Rank the arab states