Partners.

This is coolbert:

Think not just Iran and Israel. Think additional involvement of USA/British/Jordanian and Yemeni/Iraqi.

Howdy partner!

"US, partners shoot down drones launched by Iran toward Israel"

"Israel and U.S. partners are scrambling to intercept."

From https://taskandpurpose.com | BY NICHOLAS SLAYTON | APR 13, 2024. 

"U.S. and allied forces are shooting down drones over Iraq and Syria after Iran launched hundreds of uncrewed aerial vehicles toward Israel. The intercepts after Iran began the attack in retaliation for the airstrike against its embassy in Damascus earlier this month, an action it blames on Israel."

"The attack started Saturday evening local time, with Iran launching hundreds of drones. Iran’s partners in Iraq and Yemen also began sending attack UAVs toward Israel, per reports."

Further ESCALATION of an EXTREME nature possible here on a REGIONAL level. How to confine?

I reiterate, the Israeli "doomsday" plane has taken off, been launched. NOTAM's the entire Middle East have been issued. OH BOY!

coolbert.

Kirby.

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Oh, I am glad it is only a very small number. Only a very small number. Thank you, John Kirby.

American soldiers based in Iraq suffering traumatic brain damage as a result of ballistic missile attack.

1. "WATCH: Kirby Brushes Off News of US Troops Undergoing Evaluation For Traumatic Brain Injuries After Missile Attack: 'It’s Only a Very Small Number of US Troops That Were Affected'”

From https://www.thegatewaypundit.com | By Cristina Laila | Jan. 21, 2024.

"Biden spox [spokesman] John Kirby on Sunday morning callously brushed off news of US troops 'undergoing evaluation' for traumatic brain injuries after Iran-backed terrorists launched a missile attack in Iraq."

And for the treatment traumatic brain injury!

2. "Psychoactive drug ibogaine effectively treats traumatic brain injury in special ops military vets"

From https://med.stanford.edu | By Sarah C.P. Williams | January 5, 2024.

"Stanford Medicine researchers find that ibogaine, a plant-based psychoactive compound, safely led to improvements in depression, anxiety and functioning among veterans with traumatic brain injuries."

Remains to be seen if this ibogaine treatment is successful. Ibogaine used already to treat drug addicts, such as Hunter Biden, the infamous son of the President Biden.

I guess if it is good for Hunter it is good for your average-every-day American soldier, suffering from traumatic brain damage.

coolbert.

Seven.

This is coolbert. 

“'Behold, I am bringing a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel,' declares the Lord.

“It is an enduring nation,

It is an ancient nation,

A nation whose language you do not know,

Nor can you understand what they say."

Jeremiah 5:15.

"Israel readies for war on 7 fronts as attacks recorded in neighboring countries"

From The Independent  | Tom Watling | 26 December 2023.

"Israel readies for war on 7 fronts as attacks recorded in neighboring countries"

"Israel has warned they are in a war on seven fronts as attacks recorded in a handful of neighboring countries in the last 48 hours spark fears of the conflict escalating to the wider region."

"In an address to the Israeli government on Tuesday, Yoav Gallant, the country’s defense minister and one of only three members of its war cabinet, said they were coming under attack from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, Iraq, Yemen and Iran."

At this time Iranian participation in the Gaza war consists of proxy units as far as I know, nothing more than that. Direct and overt Iranian participation in the war, of course, could be seen as a very serious expansion and enlargement of a local to a regional war and beyond that to further conflict with repercussions and ramifications of unforeseen consequences.

coolbert.

Existential II.

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Copied unashamedly so in entirety from the Peter Grant blog the first paragraph of a recent article. See previous blog entry within context most germane! Existential you the devoted reader to the blog must decide for yourselves.

"Hamas attacks Israel. Is a nuclear war next?"

 From https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com | October 7, 2023.

"By now we've surely all heard about Hamas' attack on Israel.  How they managed to make so many preparations in secret for so long is a question many are asking, and I'm sure there'll be an inquest to end all inquests in Israel in due course.  Be that as it may, Israel has suffered a body blow to its self-image.  The 'proud Jewish state' has been humbled in the eyes of most people in the Middle East, and that's a dangerous thing, because many of them will be tempted to get in on the act.  Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iranian Revolutionary Guards and their proxy forces in Syria, and the Palestinian government of the West Bank are almost certainly gearing up, ready and waiting for their chance to strike.  I'd say things are balanced on a knife-edge right now."

I strongly encourage all readers to the blog to peruse the entire Peter Grant article!

coolbert.

Existential I.

This is coolbert:

"existential: adjective - of, relating to, or affirming existence"

A very threat to the Jewish homeland and nation?

"Israel faces an 'existential' threat if war expands - former security advisor"

"In an interview with Kan Bet, Eiland — a former head of The IDF’s Planning Directorate --  said that the 'State of Gaza' has declared war on the State of Israel."

From https://www.jpost.com | the article by HERB KEINON | OCTOBER 8, 2023.

"Israel will face an existential threat if Hezbollah, Iranian militias in Iraq and Syria, and Palestinian terrorists from Judea and Samaria join the fighting, former National Security Advisor Giora Eiland said in a chilling assessment on Sunday."

"In an interview with Kan Bet, Eiland — a former head of The IDF’s Planning Directorate --  said that the 'State of Gaza' has declared war on the State of Israel, and in this situation, it is not enough just to fight combatants, but it is incumbent upon Israel to hit the infrastructure inside Gaza that enables it to continue waging this war."

A threat to the very existence of Israel but ONLY if Hezbollah, other Palestinian groups and various Iranian backed proxy militias in Syria and Iraq join the battle.

DEVOTED READERS TO THE BLOG AND THOSE MERELY PERUSING IN A MUCH MORE CASUAL MANNER BE AWARE THE SITUATION IN ISRAEL VERY FLUIDIC. NUMBER OF POSTS TO THE BLOG YOU CAN EXPECT A MARKED INCREASE.

coolbert.

Tomcat.

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American F-14 Tomcat air superiority fighter plane versus Soviet era analog. No comparison! When the rubber hits the road as they say.

Someone confirm or deny?

"Saddam's Trick; How the Iraqi Leader Grounded the Elite of Iran’s Air Force with Rumors and Suspicion"

From Military Watch Magazine Editorial Staff | September-9th-2019.

Read not so much the deception. Rather read the extract.

As extracted from the article:

"These were the first fourth generation aircraft to enter service anywhere in the world outside the United States, and against Iraq's vast fleet of lighter and less sophisticated second and third generation platforms they gave Iran a distinct advantage. During the war, despite a crippling lack of spare parts and ammunition due to the American arms embargo, Iran's few serviceable F-14s downed over 160 Iraqi Iraqi aircraft - enjoying considerable advantages over jets such as the Mirage F1, MiG-23 and MiG-21 which formed the bulk of the Iraqi fleet. By contrast only three F-14s were lost in air to air combat air, reflecting the extreme discrepancy between their capabilities and those the Iraqis fielded."

FIGURES IT SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

Even within context of the F-14 being a 4th generation combat fighter warplane and those Iraqi fighter jets either being 3rd generation or 3rd generation plus the "kill ratio" 50:1 in favor of the Iranian just seems to be too good!

F-14 with the superior radar, fire control and long-range Phoenix missile more than anything else the active components responsible for the disparity here?

Again, anyone can confirm or deny?

coolbert.

Waterworks II.

This is coolbert:

Here links to various previous blog entries the topic the breaching of dams and dikes as a weapon of war. An ancient and venerable practice and as relevant to most recent events the Ukraine Conflict:

From that period of the Islamic State [ISIL] insurgency:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/04/tabqa.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2015/04/thar-thar.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/08/mosul-dam.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/07/haditha-mosul.html 

From that period of the Saddam insurgency in the aftermath of Gulf War Two:

https://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2007/11/the-latest-about-mosul-dam

Further and in historical context the Yellow River flood, 1938-47:

"In June 1938, Chinese Nationalist armies under the command of Chiang Kai-shek breached the Yellow River’s dikes at Huayuankou in Henan province in a desperate attempt to block a Japanese military advance . . . Perhaps the single most environmentally damaging act of warfare in world history . . . Between 1938 and 1947, this disaster killed more than 800,000 people in Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu and displaced nearly four million."

And the culprit the Dneiper river flooding is? We might never know with any degree of certainty?

coolbert.

Choppers.

This is coolbert:

Some items courtesy the Iranian PressTV.

American military forces Afghanistan and Iraq both AIDING fighters of the Islamic State [ISIL]? 

So it is alleged.

1. "US military lands Daesh terrorists behind PMU positions in Jurf al-Sakhar: Expert"

"The US military airlifts groups of Daesh Takfiri terrorists to areas behind the positions of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) in Jurf al-Sakhar region in the central province of Babil, says an Iraqi security expert."

2. "US forces ‘transporting by choppers’ Daesh terrorists in Afghanistan: Taliban"

"The Taliban says the US occupation forces in Afghanistan are engaged in 'transporting by their choppers' members of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the war-torn country’s east."

Daesh = Islamic State = ISIL. PMU = Popular Mobilization Unit = Iraqi Shia paramilitary fighters.

Within the context of a previous blog entry all of this sounds very strange indeed. As was previously posted the Taliban much to their amazement has benefited from apparently deliberate American close-air-support. 

The enemy of my enemy is my friend? How the world turns.

coolbert.

 

Sennacherib.

This is coolbert:

Indiana Jones and the Palace of Sennacherib? Unfortunately no! The Islamic State and Palace of Sennacherib. And all for the worst!

From the British media outlet Express and the article by Brian McGleenon

"Archaeologists find treasure trove of Assyrian kings discovered in ISIS excavated tunnels"

"ISIS fighters discovered an ancient Assyrian palace under the ruins of Mosul, but unfortunately, they looted and sold off the tantalizing treasures they discovered."

"The previously unknown palace of the Assyrian kings was discovered when the terrorist group blew up the tomb of the prophet Jonah for ideological reasons. Archaeologists spent two months exploring the tunnels dug by ISIS under the destroyed tomb. The tunnels were found to lead to the military palace founded by the Assyrian King Sennacherib in the 7th century BC."

The destruction of the Tomb of Jonah, 2014. Jonah a Prophet as mentioned in the Holy Bible. This was a Sunni mosque but for some reason as not explained the Islamic State deemed it worthy of being blown up. Enormous explosion with a swarm of persons climbing over the ruins in the aftermath of the blast. That "long-lost" palace of Sennacherib uncovered during further tunneling by Islamic State [ISIL] diggers finding treasure subsequently looted and sold on the international black market.

That Tomb of Jonah built over the ruins of the palace of Sennacherib the great King of the Assyrians. An immense [?] treasure of artifacts of antiquity stolen and sold to unscrupulous collectors. Archeologists working over the remains of the remains finding items of value but precious little of what was a discovery of potential great value. Now gone!

Any devoted reader to the blog having an idea as to why the Tomb of Jonah a target of demolition by the Islamic State? That tomb a place of worship for Sunni Muslims and not Shia.

coolbert.

Stand-To.

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Stand-To. American long range cannon. A thousand mile range! [sixteen hundred kilometers!]

From Popular Mechanics magazine the article: 

"The Army’s 1,000-Mile Long Range Cannon Is Coming Together"

Consider within context relatively recent big-bore long-range cannon:

1. The Paris Gun. German WW1.

"The Paris Gun . . . was the name given to a type of German long-range siege gun, several of which were used to bombard Paris during World War I."

2. Heavy Gustaf. German. WW2.

Schwerer Gustav . . . was a German 80-centimetre (31.5 in) railway gun. It was developed in the late 1930s by Krupp in Rügenwalde as siege artillery for the explicit purpose of destroying the main forts of the French Maginot Line"

3. Mortar Karl. German. WW2.

The MASSIVE 60cm [twenty-three inches] German Siege Mortar Karl

"During World War 2, the Germans were famous for designing and producing mega war artillery. One of the most notable German Mortar Guns was the Mortar Karl, an imposing machine that could fire shells of up to 2170kg [four thousand seven-hundred pounds] and were 60cm in diameter."

4. V-3. German. WW2.

"The V-3 . . . was a German World War II large-calibre gun working on the multi-charge principle whereby secondary propellant charges are fired to add velocity to a projectile."

5. Babylon. Iraqi.

Project Babylon:

"Project Babylon was a project with unknown objectives commissioned by then Iraqi president Saddam Hussein to build a series of 'superguns' . . . There were most likely four different devices in the program."

Future plans:

"Very large cannons, which would be capable of being elevated and trained, were also planned. The first was to have a bore of 350 mm (13.8 inches) and a barrel length of about 30 metres (100 feet), and it was expected to have a range of up to 1000 kilometers (about 625 miles)"

Comments:

* Consider as an effective weapon not merely range. Think that combination of RANGE + ACCURACY + RATE OF FIRE + LETHALITY!!

*  Cannon such as the German Gustaf awesome granted. Also requiring an immense number of troops [4,000] to maintain and employ in combat. A relatively small number of rounds having been fired the barrel needing replacement.

Stand-To as proposed a prototype will be ready to go by 2023. US Army not much time left. Good luck with that! Each round as fired the cost of which about a half-million $USD. Good luck with that too. Super!

coolbert.

VW 1994.

This is coolbert:

Consider this to be a new one on me.

Vigilant Warrior. American response [1994] to what was perceived as a second attempt by Saddam Hussein to invade Kuwait.

"Operation Vigilant Warrior . . . was a military operation from 8 October 1994 to 15 December 1994 by the United States in response to two divisions of Iraqi Republican Guard troops moving toward the Kuwaiti border."

American troops a rapid mobilization and deployment of forces to Gulf region [Persian], forestalling the machinations of Saddam.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Vigilant_Warrior#Debate_over_Iraqi_intentions

PERSONALLY I CONSIDER IT PREPOSTEROUS BUT NOT SO TOTALLY IMPLAUSIBLE THAT SADDAM WOULD MAKE ONE MORE EFFORT TO INVADE KUWAIT. EVEN AFTER THE SEVERE BEATING HIS FORCES TOOK IN THE FIRST GULF WAR THE MAN [SADDAM] NOT THAT MOST ASTUTE AND KNOWLEDGEABLE OF MILITARY LEADERS.

Debate over Iraqi intentions:

"There is significant debate over Iraqi intentions during the October 1994 crisis. Saddam Hussein's son-in-law Hussein Kamel stated after his defection to Jordan in 1995 that Saddam had intended to invade Kuwait a second time and this was forestalled by a rapid U.S. response to reinforce the kingdom. Others have argued that Saddam never intended to actually invade Kuwait and the movements were intended as a provocation to draw attention to Iraq's plight under the international sanctions regime.

"Former Republican Guard general Ra'ad al-Hamdani claimed in an interview after the 2003 invasion that Saddam had decided in September 1994 to invade Kuwait, but that he had opposed Saddam during a meeting on 11 September 1994."

Comments:

1. It has often been suggested that there was no legitimate casus belli for the Second Gulf War [2003]. Iraqi provocations of the worst sort in the eleven year period [attempting without success many times to shoot down a single American war plane] alone an indication that Saddam had not abandoned his intentions toward Kuwait.

2. Those sanctions as purported causing a lot of misery for the Iraqi people only as a result of continued and stubborn Iraqi intransigence. Sanctions originally supposed to last for mere months lasting for years again as a result of Saddam and his intrigue of an unseemly nature.

coolbert.

Al Asad.

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"The rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air"

As was feared is occurring. Iranian retaliation only today and was expected.

From The War Zone the story by Trevithick thanks to the tip from Freeper. From War Zone introductory items as copied in entirety.

"Iran Strikes Back: Missiles Rain Down On American Forces In Iraq (Updated)"

"This unprecedented attack is in retaliation for an American strike that killed a top Iranian commander and could provoke a U.S. response."

"Details are still coming in, but Iran has launched a missile attack against U.S. forces in Iraq, including Al Asad Air Base, in retaliation for the American drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian commander, last week. A major rocket barrage on Al Asad, which sits around 115 miles west of Baghdad, may have also preceded the strikes. U.S. President Donald Trump has already threatened a major response, including potential strikes on cultural sites, against Iran in the event of any such attack."

RETALIATION USING ROCKET ARTILLERY IT SEEMS. DETAILS OBVIOUSLY TO FOLLOW BUT HOLD ONTO YOUR HATES EVERYONE THAT IS CLEAR.

We have just begun? I fear so.

coolbert.

Plan.

This is coolbert:

"The plan is the base from which all change is made!"

Continuing with yet still more with regard to the withdrawal of American troops from the Northeast [NE] are of Syria. Additionally in response to the challenge as posed the Colonel USMC.

All times courtesy the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter.

1. "Esper: US troops withdrawing from Syria to relocate in Iraq"

18 October.

"US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Saturday night that all of the nearly 1,000 troops the US is pulling out of northern Syria are to be re-positioned in western Iraq to continue the campaign against Islamic State (ISIS) and 'to help defend Iraq.'”

As was planned from almost one year ago.

"2. Iraqi trucks evacuate US Syrian bases, some equipment trashed"

21 October.

"Western and Syrian reporters witnessing the US pullback from the embattled areas of northern Syria report that convoys of 100 Iraqi trucks each are transporting the contents of the bases to western Iraq, escorted by US military APCs. The abandoned bases were described as containing dorms, shooting ranges, a command center, a communications hub, vehicle repair workshops, training areas, a medical clinic and entertainment and sports areas. The departing US troops have been blowing up and trashing large quantities of documents, computers, signaling systems, weapons and ammunition."

3. "Trump backtracks on N. Syria: Some US troops to stay, one air base retained"

24 October.

"Only some of the thousand US troops on their way out of northern Syria will leave. Others will remain 'to keep the Bashar al-Assad regime and Iranian forces away from Syria’s oil fields.'”

"DEBKAfile reports that the airfield is at Rmeilan, in the Kurdish province of Hasaka opposite the Iraqi border. A US air force presence there will provide a base for American attack helicopters and armed drones to retain control over North Syrian air space and its border with Iraq . .  Both bases will be guarded by several hundred US special forces, who will also counter counter ISIS forces trying to make a comeback. Trump’s backtrack allays some of Israel’s concerns about Iran gaining an open door from Iraq into Syria."

The plan is the base from which all change is made!

American ground troops as withdrawing from the Rojava area hardly doing with any consideration to planning or with total disregard for SDF/YPG allies. Anything but that.

THE PLAN IS THE BASE FROM WHICH ALL CHANGE IS MADE. THE GREATER THE NUMBER OF ASSUMPTIONS MADE, THE GREATER THE CORRECTNESS OF THOSE ASSUMPTIONS AND YOU NEED LITTLE ALTERATION TO THE ORIGINAL PLAN. PLAN HOWEVER ALMOST NEVER SUBJECTED TO SOME SORT OF CHANGE, DYNAMICS DEMANDING OTHERWISE. WAR IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS CHAOS. MORE CORRECTLY UNDERSTAND WAR AS CONTROLLED CHAOS?

coolbert.

Presence.

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Backstab?

"The US will still 'maintain a presence' after troop pullout from NE Syria"

As was originally posted 22 December of last year but has now been updated with regard to most recent developments.

"Following the backlash from President Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops from NE Syria, senior administration officials Friday night, Dec. 21 offered Mid East leaders clarifications for allaying their concerns."

Clarifications as perhaps most needed in the case of those coalition forces as allied with the American military in the struggle with the Islamic State.

In particular the SDF [Syrian Democratic Forces] and even further and more pertinent the Kurdish fighters that comprise the bulk [?] of the SDF combat forces. Without the Kurds the battle against the Islamic State could not have won? A debt of gratitude is owed all SDF combatants.

The great fear the back-stab as deemed. A hasty and ill-thought-out American withdrawal placing the SDF in great danger.

* American presence to be diminished but not totally eliminated.
* Withdrawal of American combat units not to be precipitous but phased.
* Further Turkish intervention not to be so extreme as anticipated.
* Allied forces [Iraqi] in the region positioned for rapid reaction if needed.

coolbert.

Joint.

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RETALIATION YES BUT NOT A GENERAL WAR?

Once more and again in the slightly belated manner from the DEBKAfile newsletter the military response [?] to the attack on the Saudi petroleum installations?

Saudi response in consonance with Israeli interests?

"First Israeli-Saudi air force collaboration for demolishing Iran’s Abu Kamal complex"

20 September.

"The latest round of attacks on Iran’s military complex in Syria’s Abu Kamal region are a joint operation by the Israeli and Saudi air forces . . . [the] targets are the al Qods Brigades bases, command centers, missile and ammo stores Iran has set up close to the Iraqi border, as well as Iraqi Shiite militia and Lebanese Hizballah forces. An estimated 100 Iranian and militia combatants were reported killed in the joint operation and several hundred injured."

"Western military sources report that the 'unidentified' UAVs sighted lately flying over Iranian concentrations in Syria belong to Saudi Arabia. One was shot down on Thursday. Those sources add that the US is providing air cover, as well as running intelligence. This was part of President Donald Trump’s rationale when he decided to hold off from conducting a direct US military action in retaliation for Iran’s crippling missile-cum-drone assault on the Saudi oil procession plant at Abqaiq and the Kurais oilfield last Saturday. Trump appears to be waiting to see how the still ongoing Israeli-Saudi offensive against Iran turns out."

Almost a retaliation in kind. UAV versus UAV!

A PERFECT INSTANCE OF THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY IS MY FRIEND? PUT ASIDE ALL OUTSTANDING ISSUES, A MUCH GREATER TASK IS AT HAND?

coolbert.

Soumar.

This is coolbert:

Intel = intelligence.

Here with everything you always wanted to know about the attack on the Saudi petroleum installations.

That attack more elaborate than originally thought. Houthi Yemeni rebels not to blame. Cruise missiles AND drones both employed. The former as launched from Iranian territory.

Thanks slightly belatedly to a current edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter:

1. "US intel suspects Iranian cruise missiles hit Saudi oil facilities from Iraq"

15 September.

"US intelligence experts, studying the major attack on key Saudi oil facilities on Saturday, Sept. 14, have found that cruise missiles, not just drones, were used and they were launched from a pro-Iranian Iraqi Shiite militia base, despite Baghdad’s denials."

ATTACK ON THE SAUDI PETROLEUM INSTALLATIONS BY CRUISE MISSILES AND DRONES BOTHE.

2. "Cruise missiles shot against Saudi oil S. Iran, drones from W. Iraq"

16 September.

"Iran’s attack on major Saudi oil infrastructure came from two locations, hence the confusion . . . Summer [Soumar] cruise missiles were fired from southern Iran and Avail 2 [Ababil-2/Qasef-1] armed drones from Anbar in western Iraq. This was the initial conclusion reached in the unfolding probes by US and Saudi intelligence into Saturday’s devastating attack on the big Saudi oil refinery at Abqaiq and the Kurais oil field. Our sources add that the Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, which staged the attack, fired altogether 17 missiles and drones, of which 12 missiles achieved direct hits on their targets and five drones missed."

3. "US official to ABC: Iran attacked Saudis from its territory. Trump holds fire"

16 September.

"Iran launched nearly a dozen cruise missiles and more than 20 drones from its territory in the attack on key Saudi oil facilities in Saturday, a senior Trump administration official told ABC News on Sunday night. Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for the assault, but the senior US official said that was false."

4. "The US identifies source locations of Iran attack on Saudi oil"

17 Sep.

"CBS reports that the US has identified the exact locations from which more than 20 drones and cruise missiles were launched against Saudi oil facilities on Saturday. The locations are in southern Iran at the northern end of the Persian Gulf . . . the cruise missiles were fired from the southern Iranian province of Khuzestan."

UNDENIABLY AN ACT OF WAR! ATTACK ON THE SAUDI PETROLEUM INSTALLATIONS A CASUS BELLI! RESPONSE OF A RETALIATORY NATURE OR WORSE ALMOST MANDATED?

coolbert.

Oilfields.

This is coolbert:

Oilfield attack Saudi, combat drone!

From DEBKAfile the latest update the drone attack on the Saudi oil fields.

"The big drone attack on Saudi oil facilities was launched by Iran-backed Yemeni Houthis from… Iraq"

"Early Saturday, Sept. 14, Yemeni Houthi rebels fired at least 10 drones against the Saudi Aramco’s biggest oil facility and second largest oil field from Iraq. Our sources report that they used pro-Iranian Shiite militia bases in southern Iraq, instead of across the Yemen border."

Houthi indeed attacking the Saudi oil fields with considerable damage as a result. Drones as launched from Iraqi territory. with the connivance of Iraqi Shia. That Shia militia undoubtedly beholden to the Iranian.

The noted blogger Spengler considers DEBKAfile to be unreliable under all circumstances. Where ever the drone attack originated let no one doubt this situation dire, potential for severe consequences on a global scale undeniable!!

coolbert.

Qanas.

This is coolbert:

"We are going to bomb the sh.t out of them" - - D. Trump, Presidential candidate.

THEM the Islamic State. To an extent ISIL fighters still active. Even having strongholds.

One stronghold gone? Indeed.

From STARS AND STRIPES the article by CHAD GARLAND.

"US bombs ISIS island in Iraq’s Tigris River"

QANAS ISLAND. TIGRIS RIVER. IRAQ.

"Coalition and Iraqi forces carried out airstrikes Tuesday against an island south of Mosul in the Tigris River believed to be a safe haven for the Islamic State group in Iraq."

"Fireballs exploded across Qanus Island in Iraq’s Salahuddin province, as plumes of smoke billowed up into the sky, a video posted on Twitter showed. Black-clad Iraqi counter-terrorism troops are seen watching over the operation from the ground."

GO SEE THE EMBEDDED VIDEO!

Ground assault to follow by Iraqi special operations counter-terrorism troops. I hope it goes or has gone well. Get rid of the bad guys. Maybe just a bunch of stunned individuals aimlessly moving around in a state of what used to be called shell-shock. I would like to hope so.

coolbert.

Brigade 45.

This is coolbert:

War by drone. Again. 

Iraqi PMU unit [Brigade 45?] subjected to Israeli drone attack. Dire consequences. 

Once more from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter:

"DEBKAfile: PMU convoy bombed in Iraq carried Zelzal 2 surface rockets"

26 Aug.

"According to our sources, the Popular Mobilization Forces [PMU] trucks bombed by drones on the Iraq-Syrian border on Sunday were loaded with Zelzal 2 surface rockets, which have a range of 300km [188 miles]. They were hidden under camouflage netting. The PMU officer in charge of Iran’s arms delivery route to Syria and Lebanon was among the operatives killed in the attack."

A BALLOON IN THE AREA KEEPING CLOSE SURVEILLANCE OF THE AREA PRIOR TO THE ATTACK. AMERICAN SPECIAL OPERATIONS TROOPS ACTIVE IN THE AREA?

coolbert.

WSJ IV.

This is coolbert:

Conclusion!

Historical headlines the Wall Street Journal those with a military dimension.

August 15, 2002.

"DON'T ATTACK SADDAM"

By Brent Scowcroft

"Our nation is presently engage in a debate about whether to launch a war against. Iraq. Leaks of various strategies for an attack on Iraq appear with regularity. The Bush administration vows regime change, but states that no decision has been made whether, much less when, to launch an invasion"

"It is beyond dispute that Saddam Hussein is a menace. He terrorizes and brutalizes his own people. He has launched war on two of his neighbors. He devotes enormous effort to rebuilding his military forces and equipping them weapons of mass destruction. We will all be better off when his is gone."

"That said, we need to think through this issue very carefully. We need to analyze the relationship between Iraq and our other pressing priorities - - notably the war on terrorism - - as well as the best strategy and tactics available were we to move to change the regime in Baghdad."

And we all know the rest of story, don't we. Gulf War II. The end of Saddam. The Iraqi Insurgency. The rise of the Islamic State and the defeat of same. And the beat goes on.

coolbert.