US/Israel conduct airstrikes on Iran again

Manic Moran · 18-03-2026 02:13PM

So many people seem to think things are 'war crimes' without actually looking up the standards and laws because they apparently 'don't like' what they are seeing, or follow other commentators who 'don't like' what they are seeing and copy them. I've given up trying to correct people. Some of Iran's decisions may have been politically questionable, but I am very hesitant to call anything Iran has done a 'war crime' without some evidence of the matter. That also applies to things like sinking warships away from combat zones and the use of white phosphorous.

Rule 1 when arguing the law: Show me the law.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124321413#Comment_124321413

I'm quite confident that escorting can be done against the level of capability Iran is going to be dropped down to, but it will require the dedicated use of assets which are currently being occupied doing other things, or which are not yet in the area. I would not say that the houthi example is exactly the same due to the different basing situation, and the fact that there wasn't any huge effort to provide protection. For the Straits of Hormuz, there's a lot more incentive as there are no viable alternate routes. Plus it’s worth noting that the Houthis seem no longer to be causing much trouble. Possibly because one of their major sponsors and sources of supply are a bit distracted of late.

A Dub in Glasgo · 18-03-2026 02:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124321577#Comment_124321577

In the film Green Zone but I think that was same surname, different chap

JohnDoe2025 · 18-03-2026 02:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124321514#Comment_124321514

Are you saying that it sounds quite possible that reports out of Turkey and Iraq are accurate about the plans of the US?

brickster69 · 18-03-2026 02:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124321656#Comment_124321656

Possible yes. Do you think they have some kind of strategic plan and everything is going according to whatever it is ?

smurfjed · 18-03-2026 02:41PM

So it looks like these 2 went to visit the strait of Hormuz last night, 3rd one is a KC10 tanker.

JohnDoe2025 · 18-03-2026 02:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124321660#Comment_124321660

I don't think it is quite possible that random people in Iraq and Turkey have the inside line on what the plan of the US is or isn't. I think it is highly unlikely that is the case.

Manic Moran · 18-03-2026 02:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124321660#Comment_124321660

There is so much of a difference between the operational plans of Venezuela (go in, get the guy, hit nothing not directly related to the operation, leave the rest of the administration) and Iran (go for the entire governing body, hit everything they have) that it seems to be unlikely there was any intended similarity in the planning.

brickster69 · 18-03-2026 02:44PM

Looks like Trumps hopes for a rate cut today has taken a big hit as inflation for February came in far higher expected. Odds have done a sharp 180 degree turn and are higher now for them to go up next rather than down.

That is without what is coming down the pipeline for what has happened already in March.

combat14 · 18-03-2026 02:44PM

the latest from trump sounds like he will up the ante to drag his allies in

Trump wrote:

I wonder what would happen if we “finished off” what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called “Straight?” That would get some of our non-responsive “Allies” in gear, and fast!!!

brickster69 · 18-03-2026 02:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124321684#Comment_124321684

What was the plan do you think ?

briany · 18-03-2026 03:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124321687#Comment_124321687

I have to remind myself on a regular basis that the sitting POTUS taking to social media and writing screeds on the level of a 13 year old edgelord is absolutely not normal and is, in fact, pretty dystopian.

combat14 · 18-03-2026 03:05PM

israelis seem to be the ones bombing iranian gas/oil facilities now we can probably expect a response soon from iran and a commensurate increase in oil prices

brickster69 · 18-03-2026 03:29PM

Iran supplies 20% of Turkey's gas and now the gas flows to Iraq have also been halted, Iraq uses that gas to generate 40% of it's entire electricity. Iraq has lost 3,200 megawatts of electricity in the first hour since the attack.

Glenomra · 18-03-2026 03:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124321756#Comment_124321756

It appears to me that Israel know, that the more they escalate matters, and the worse the conflict becomes, the more protracted the war becomes, in the process making it impossible for Trump to call an end to it. Israel, knows that ultimately no matter what it does it will have the US's 'back'. This war could escalate beyond any easy fix.

Tazz T · 18-03-2026 03:34PM

Oil is going through the roof today because of those attacks (gas on the rise too). Retaliatory strikes on oil/gas infrastructure from Iran will make it even worse. Pressure will be on Trump to taco, maybe as soon as Friday evening coming up to the market close.

Manic Moran · 18-03-2026 03:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124321691#Comment_124321691

I have no idea. I suspect the military guidance was to degrade Iran’s operational capability (both Iranian and proxy) for its own sake, but what the intended larger goal was, your guess is as good as mine. I have no particular sources or insight at that level.

smurfjed · 18-03-2026 03:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124321756#Comment_124321756

Havent you noticed that 90% of attacks in Saudi were against oil facilities? The hit a refinery on the 03rd which only came back online yesterday.

smurfjed · 18-03-2026 03:39PM

For all the talk of a greater Israel, it appears that the Persians have a similar claim.

walshb · 18-03-2026 03:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124320880#Comment_124320880

Thanks for that!

igCorcaigh · 18-03-2026 03:44PM

There seems to be a big escalation in the war today on a number of fronts.

Entire blocks are being levelled in central Beirut.

batman75 · 18-03-2026 03:46PM

It was an act of monumental stupidity for Israel to attack Iran's gas and oil facilities. It's going to be Armageddon in the M/East now. Even the U.S. didn't want that red line crossed.

We are all going to pay the price for Israel's recklessness. Iran won't hold back in retaliating. I expect ever more modern missiles to hit Israel as the conflict goes on.

smurfjed · 18-03-2026 03:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124321691#Comment_124321691

My guess is that they are waiting for the people to take over the country, they apparently hacked Iranian TV and out the son of the SHAH on talking directly to the Persians.

Sudden Valley · 18-03-2026 03:52PM

The planned regime change still seems to be a non-runner . Given the regime has all the weaponry, Trump really has made very little efforts to make a successful uprising a real possibility.

Ozymandius2011 · 18-03-2026 03:55PM

Iran's Intelligence Chief Esmail Khatib killed in air strike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tF_uokp5fE

yagan · 18-03-2026 04:01PM

Interesting to see the ban on covering successful Iran strikes within Israel appears to have been relaxed. Everyone within Israel knows Iran is hitting them hard so keeping up any other pretense is pointless. Iron Dome is breachable and the perception of Israel being untouchable has been shattered.

smurfjed · 18-03-2026 04:01PM

And it appears that this guy is also gone.

“Naim Qassem is a senior Lebanese political and religious figure best known as the Deputy Secretary-General of Hezbollah.”

sock.rocker* · 18-03-2026 04:15PM

Iran is unfortunately giving Israel a lot of reason to attack their energy infrastructure when the repercussions fall on the other gulf states.

SafeSurfer · 18-03-2026 04:16PM

I am coming to the conclusion that Trump might actually achieve regime change in Iran and installation of a regime friendly to the US and Israel.

He has courted disaster so many times before and come back from situations that seemed career ending, but here he is. Leader of the free world.

If he “topples the Mullahs” then “takes Cuba” will his place in the pantheon of great American presidents be secure or will he always be regarded as an ignorant, narcissistic, tasteless oaf?

JohnDoe2025 · 18-03-2026 04:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124321998#Comment_124321998

He will always be regarded as an ignorant, narcissistic, tasteless oaf, but he won't be the first (or last) ignorant, narcissistic, tasteless oaf to get something done.

combat14 · 18-03-2026 04:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124321891#Comment_124321891

apparently the attacks today on oil/gas infrastructure were coordinated with US so not just israelis

US/Israel conduct airstrikes on Iran again

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