US/Israel conduct airstrikes on Iran again

Given that you know Iranians this isn't going to be news to you but they are probably the most kind and caring people I've ever met.

Well, I can't say that for sure cos my sample size is very small!

But the only one that I've had any proper conversations with regarding this whole show is a chap I see regularly down the local and he's always been a friendly guy. He likes a few pints of Guinness, so I presume that he's not religious in a strict manner. He's younger than me but he knows the history of his country very well. He's been able to talk to his folks, they're outside of Tehran, but there's been no certainty in getting through to them. He says they're fine though. They're in a place that wouldn't see too many attacks, but everywhere is in turmoil at the moment. Getting food is difficult at times and water has begun to be an issue. Everyone just wants all of this to be over whether they don't like the regime or not.

On the opposite side, I know a couple of Israeli's, one of which I was talking to on this subject as well. She said that she's not been able to talk much to her family, but that they're ok as well. They're in Tel Aviv, which she says has been getting a bit of a pounding over the past few weeks. She lives in Berlin now. She said she has the laptop on all day, just in case one of her lot ping her and the phone is never out of reach.

@Tony EH

”Getting food is difficult at times and water has begun to be an issue. Everyone just wants all of this to be over whether they don't like the regime or not.”

Just think what type of life the average Iranians would have if a small percentage of the military spending was used for the betterment of the population.

I stopped using X/Twitter because I have no interest in engaging with a platform run by a pedophile-enabling Nazi so I don't know about those particular posts. As I said, from what I have seen elsewhere is that the fawning over Pahlavi seems to come from people who directly, or indirectly, benefitted from that regime as opposed to the people (and decedents of) who were tortured and killed by SAVAK.

What does the photo of a KC10 from 2013 have to do with the questions you've ignored again?

Is your contention that because a lovely hi-res Google earth photo of a KC10 at Prince Sultan exists?
That current lower res imagery of damage inflicted at the base is untrustworthy?
Regarding the damage assessment and your claim that they can't identify the aircraft type?

It's well known what types operate from the base as well as which units.
Any assessment of the damage even via a soft focus, vaseline smeared boudoir photography lens would have no issues identifying the aircraft type damaged.
Claiming otherwise?
Is pointless, the notion that an experienced OSINT interpreter would struggle with identifying aircraft type at low res when the choice is KC135, E3 or F16s?

I don't agree that there's much likelihood of a huge error in assessing the burn damage or scorch marks once the F16 is discounted as not being a 4 engined 35⁰ swept airliner sized airframe.
It isn't that difficult.

Now as much as I value your contributions particularly in the aviation forum.
I am wondering why you haven't answered the questions I asked?

I'll repeat them, in the hope you will answer.

You said,

You are making an assumption that you know why they are all actually there, and you obviously don’t. Look at that same radar picture from 6 months ago or even 2 year ago.

And in reply, I've asked (twice now) and you even quoted the questions in your reply and still ignored them.

&

I'd appreciate your points as to what inflight refuelling tankers and AWACs are in the middle east for?
If not to support ongoing US operations in the area, since their original deployments and continuing?
Then what?

Yes, and the irony is some of those gung-ho for this war would be the very first to complain if some of these displaced millions start coming into Europe. I find it hard to believe that US military leaders and intelligence officials didn't do those types of war games scenarios. Maybe they didn't, but it seems more likely Trump and Hegseth simply didn't listen to them, they thought it would be a weekend excursion like Venezuela. Perhaps Vance did though, but his voice was drowned out by the meatheads like Hegseth.

Iran were once an ally of america, give it a couple decades and Saudi could go that way. The UAE and Saudi has washed their image for decades through tax havens and investment in Western sporting events and clubs. That's the difference with Iran

The difference is that the likes of the House of Saud plays ball, so the "west" (i.e. America) averts their eyes.

The quality of the google earth photo allows you to check that it is a KC-10. The chinese photos dont have the same clarity so i cant judge them, nor assess if they are AI generated. Unfortunately google earth doesnt have updated coverage of that area.

We know that they were operating there in early Feb as they flew into and at the Middle East Defense show.

As for your lingering question, if i find something in the public domain, i shall discuss it, if its not public. I won’t.

Great you can check it's a KC10 photo taken in 2013, a trijet retired in 2024.
What does that have to do with current imagery?
With the 35⁰ swept wing, 4 engines and scorch marks?

Certainly better imagery would be nice but even low res Landsat imagery is available of the damage now.
It's not all Chinese imagery, but given that the Western hi-res suppliers have closed off access to Israel, and other US bases since the start of the Month?
They could quite easily rebut the amateur BDA by allowing Planet Labs and other imagery providers to release up to date imagery, as they do for Iran.
Or Mizarvision could release new imagery but I doubt that would be acceptable for you.

As for your continuing avoidance of answering

I'd appreciate your points as to what inflight refuelling tankers and AWACs are in the middle east for?
If not to support ongoing US operations in the area, since their original deployments and continuing?
Then what?

It's a topic you raised, yet now is off limits until you discover a public source.
That's more than a little odd.
Why then did you raise it?
You said I'm making an assumption as to why the Tankers and AWACs are in the ME.
I said, to support ongoing US operations in the ME, yet you keep dancing on a pin to avoid giving your opinion?
While holding mine as "assumption".

So, why are they there?
What's the purpose of in-flight refuelers and AWACs anywhere in the world, if not to support ongoing operations by their operators?

.Donegal

”I do find it incredibly strange though how the west never shuts up about irans human rights record while it simultaneously cosies up to Saudi Arabia which kill protestors and arrests children and kills them and kills journalists. Women were only allowed to drive there recently and they have a separate entrance for women to enter places like McDonalds. It’s much more backward and repressive regime for women and everyone for that matter than Iran. In essence it’s just a dictatorship.”

You may find this hard to believe but countries do evolve and generally evolve at their own pace. We arent allowed to use AI in this forum so I’m going to guess what you are talking about.

1: Shi’ite protests in around 2013 and the arrest of a teenager who was subsequently executed?

2: Definitely killed Khasoggi

3: Yep 5-6 years so that can be considered recent

4: Not true, 99% of restaurants are mixed, sport centers are separate.

5: Backward and regressive regime for women? Can you expand on this.

Really? If they really wanted to destroy Iran for decades, all they had to do was turn right from Iraq in 1991.

I dont think they had an army to invade even Iraq in 1991 yet you expected them just to turn right and successfully invade Iran?

Where about are you posting from?

@Cluedo Monopoly - its an anonymous bulletin board so all opinions are equal.