https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jun/13/israel-iran-strikes-defence-minister-tehran-middle-east-live
Reports stating that Israel have launched an attack against Iran
If only that were true. Unfotunately mine laying is relatively straightforward.
Mines can be laid in many ways: by purpose-built minelayers, refitted ships, submarines, or aircraft—and even by dropping them into a harbour by hand. They can be inexpensive: some variants can cost as little as US $2,000, though more sophisticated mines can cost millions of dollars, be equipped with several kinds of sensors, and deliver a warhead by rocket or torpedo.
Of course they can. Hence why the US Navy hasn't rushed in there to protect shipping. Any surface vessel passing through the straight will potentially be within range of a lot weapons, not just big bulky hard to launch ballistic missiles!
It could be a double tap. But that would seem a very poor use of a limited and expensive resource (Tomahawks), so I would say it is unlikely. The more likely explanation is that someone assessed that their target would take multiple hits to destroy. For example, here is footage from Tuesday in Russia of an attack on a Russian weapons manufacturing factory by Ukraine…
Note the smoke rising from the previous missile strikes, as the next (rare and expensive) Storm Shadow hits. At least two missiles used, arriving separately, but multiple required to take out a big target. The Storm Shadows used here are essentially the Anglo/French equivalent of a Tomahawk.
Sincere thanks for that. You communicated a lot beautifully in a few paragraphs.
You know, you could use their post as a learning experience and maybe grow beyond your own poisonous antisemitism. It poisons your own posts (such as the one above), and any message you are attempting to convey.
That poster is a far more effective communicator, and a far more effective advocate for the demise of the current Israeli government. I don't agree with all their opinions and posts, but I'll always read them and take them seriously. And that warmth of feeling for their experience in Israel, which you try and dismiss, actually makes their advocacy against the current Israeli government and their actions all the more powerful.
Witkoff says Putin assured Trump they were not sharing intelligence with Iran and they take him at his word.
But they also previously, at a presentation, dismissed Zelenskys offer to sell advanced anti drone capabilities to the US and his warnings that Iran was increasing its drone capabilities, as "Zelensky being Zelensky". Now they are asking for Ukraine's assistance with Iranian drones.
You don't often see the words "Witkoff" and "intelligence" in the same sentence!
Ship on fire in Hormuz strait yesterday.
Indications Russia preparing to send advanced drone technology and Chechen fighters to Iran.
Funny enough, Ali al-Sistani, the main man in Iraq, ayatollah-wise, is from Iran. Despite his fearsome appearance, which would be just right for Saruman in any LOTR spin-off, he views his primary role as spiritual and has generally limited his involvement in Iraqi politics to crises like the invasion of the country by Islamic State. He also promoted democracy and urged women to vote. His pronouncements haven’t been progressive on every matter but in fairness he is nearly a hundred. It’s tragic that his fellow Shi’ite clerics in Iran have taken such a different view of their role in society.
Iran only became Shi’ite under the Safavid dynasty (1501-1722). This had the effect of distinguishing the Iranian nation from its Arab, Ottoman and Uzbek neighbours who were predominantly Sunni.
Meidas on YouTube reporting that 150 US troops have been injured so far in this war. Also US intelligence reports Iran starting to mine the Strait of Hormuz. Also showing a graph from Christopher Clary on X showing that the rate of drone interception in the UAE is dropping. About 25% of Iranian drones got through on 10th May compared to 10% at the start of the war (shown on graph 2.18 minutes into the video)
He’s a clearly a highly talented man in his own area of expertise but imagining he could negotiate with Putin and Iran is like asking a poet to do brain surgery. Diplomacy is a difficult craft that has to be learned over years. Unlike real estate the other side may share very few of your notions about what an acceptable agreement even looks like.
This isn’t a war. It’s a short-term experience:
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) on Monday downplayed the economic repercussions of the U.S. military campaign against Iran, describing the widening conflict as a “short-term experience.”
https://www.nj.com/politics/2026/03/this-gop-leader-just-used-a-bizarre-3-word-phrase-to-describe-the-iran-war.html
A ship on fire and mines being laid. You don't need many mines to stop ships from sailing even with the biggest and bestest military escorts. The US will not be able to provide a credible defence against both mines and and rockets and Iran will know their location and be able to let oil pass through to countries like China.
There is a reason Trump "warned that if Iran had placed mines in the crucial waterway, they must be moved “IMMEDIATELY” or Iran would face military consequences “at a level never seen before”. He knows the strait is what it's all about now, not nukes, not strikes on Israel, not strikes on the GCC, not regime change. The biggest threat of military action is due to a shipping lane, not all of the other reasons that have been given for this war.
And I feel like everyone is sleeping on the fact that it's not even about the Strait of Hormuz itself. If America does manage to escort some tankers out, Iran can just hit related ships sitting waiting further up in the Persian Gulf. Like they just have to say that they will do that and then escorts become meaningless. I don't think even nuking Iran would stop this. This is their version of MAD.
@dmcdora nicely written,
“Reading posts here about those who travelled Iran and met Iranians, seems they have similar experiences - great country, lovely people but a few nutters really **** it up for everyone.”….. it could literally apply to a lot of countries in the Middle East. I remember visiting the airport control tower in Shiraz and all they wanted to discuss was Roy Keanes departure from Saipan :)
It looks a lot busier than over the last few days. The big red ones are generally oil tankers and you can see them moving in both directions.
Same applies to Dubai airport at 0809/11th.
Quite a few transited too, I linked to marine traffic page earlier, ships approach, pop out of existence on these trackers and appear on other side in morning
Tel Aviv struck in the biggest missile attacks yet of this war, also a US base targeted near Baghdad airport as was most of the gulf states. Looks like they found some missiles down the back of the couch, either that or someone has been lying.
2 cargo ships hit with unknown projectiles in the Gulf this morning.
https://m.independent.ie/world-news/middle-east/iran-keeps-up-pressure-on-us-and-israel-with-fresh-strikes-across-middle-east-us-blasts-through-56bn-worth-of-weaponry-in-first-two-days-of-conflict/a1936793771.html
5.6 Billion worth of bombs used by US/Israel on first 2 days …..a lot of Trumps biggest donors own these arms companies and clearly making lots of money out of killing people in the Middle East .. be a lot of bonuses in these companies this year sadly
Spot on - Muslims and Jews I met in Israel were only interested in whether I'd met the Queen, how much was a pair of 501s, are leprechauns real and the price of housing. The mother of my work colleagues wanted to know how big the Grand Canyon was, what was Las Vegas like and was Los Angeles as beautiful (and mad) as the TV portrayed it.
Not once did they ask about politics or mention their own political situations.
People just want to live a quiet happy life providing for their loved ones. As I'm sure many here also want.
And yet here we are. And the poorer for it.
Rumours online that Mojtoba Khamenei, the new Iranian Supreme Leader, has been injured. His wife, mother, father and two sons have been killed in this war. Also he was promoted to an Ayatollah when he became Supreme Leader. His father in 1989 was also not an Ayatollah originally until he became Supreme Leader.
Iran released this lego-propaganda video.
China has banned petrol and diesel exports
I've been at loggerheads with many pro- Israeli posters over the last couple of years but I have learned a lot from them and I appreciate that they bothered to at least put up an alternative argument or talking point. I've agreed with them and thanked them also. And disagreed and lambasted them also. Likewise, I've been rightly excoriated when Ive gotten angry and lashed out. I hope I'm better than I was 2 years ago.
There are intelligent and considerate posters on both sides. All it takes is a deep breath, an open mind and walk in the other's shoes for that moment.
I've no beef with Jews in general or Arabs in general - they are exactly the same as us. Just with better weather.
The politicians and terrorists can just go and do one though and leave the rest of us alone to try and live as good a life as we can without harming each other.
I have a feeling the whole mine laying story is possibly Trump's off ramp, its made up to give something tangible to say they've protected the gilf states from.
Iran can hit any ship in the strait without needing mines or a navy.
No insurance company will underwrite the vessels even with Military assistance.
Also worth noting American Military assistance won't be free.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20zg54g5vvo
Couldn't agree more….pretty much every post I see from some posters are 100 percent only intent on slating slating Israel. Link after link after link with some to try show how "evil" Isarel is.
By it's actions the Israeli state is evil. That doesn't mean all Israeli's are evil. It's like saying all germans were nazis.
Very naive post in fairness. We are humans for sure, to say we are all the same, ethnically, religiously, tolerantly, democratically or on loads of levels, is wrong,wrong, wrong. Human rights are abused world wide, but perhaps nowhere worse than most countries in the middle East.
Go live there in any of them countries for a while and see if we are all the same!
Politicians are what they are, but ours and most western countries are elected, be they good or bad. They get a term and can be replaced. Theirs aren't and rule by fear and accident of birth. Had the people of Iran a choice of new supreme leader?
Surprised at your naievity.
Great posts @dmcdona. Very insightful and balanced as always. Your contributions on the Gaza thread were always top notch.
I fairness, many of those links are coming from Israelis themselves. Or at least those Israelis who are horrified at where their country and home is being taken.
I do try to make it clear that my beef is with the Israeli Govt.
I'm sure that most of those painting Palestinians and Iranians as bloodthirsty nutters are equally referring only to the respective Govts. and terrorist "leaders" and not the average man/woman and child in the street.
I do believe that we all fundamentally agree on the futility of war and violence.
You may very well be right.
But I'd rather live in hope in the goodness of people than live as a bitter twisted soul that only sees the bad.
If that's a fool's errand, so be it.
For the record, I abhor the Iranian regime and where they have brought their citizens equally as much as the Israeli govt. and where they've brought their citizens. And any other govt. that is cruel either to its own or others.
The state along with many others has behaved in an evil manner. Thats pure common sense. Not the people as a whole. More common sense...
