War Iran-United States Military Crisis of 2020 - US Baghdad embassy under siege, rocket fire in US Baghdad green zone, Ukrainian Airlines flight 752 crash, and more!

January 10th:
Exclusive: Informants in Iraq, Syria helped U.S. kill Iran's Soleimani - sources (archive)(post)
Iraqi Shia cleric whose militia killed American troops says crisis is over following Iran strike and Trump speech (archive)(post)
Iraqi PM tells US to decide mechanism for troop withdrawal (archive)(post)
Mike Pence says Congress might 'compromise sources and methods' if fully briefed on the Soleimani strike (archive)(post)
Unidentified planes hit Iraqi militiamen in Syria, killing 8 (archive)(post)
Iraq: The Master Of Mayhem Meets A Missile (archive)(post)
Eliminating Qasem Soleimani was Donald Trump’s Middle East farewell letter (archive)(post)
Iran uses BULLDOZERS to clear debris from plane crash site while accusing US of ‘big lie’ that they shot it down (archive)(post)
Swiss Back Channel Helped Defuse U.S.-Iran Crisis (post)

January 11th:
UKRAINIAN AIRCRAFT WAS BROUGHT DOWN IN IRAN DUE TO 'HUMAN ERROR' (archive)(post)
Iran minister says 'human error' caused by 'US adventurism' led to deadly crash of Ukrainian jetliner (archive)(post)
Ukrainian aircraft was brought down in Iran due to 'human error' (archive)(post)
Trump, at Ohio rally, says Democrats would have leaked Soleimani attack plans (archive)(post)
The Atlantic's David Frum blames Trump for downing of plane in Iran, deaths of 176 (archive)(post)
Associated Press changes ‘shockingly bad’ headline about Soleimani, Ukrainian plane crash after backlash (archive)(post)
GOP Rep. Doug Collins apologizes for saying Democrats are 'in love with terrorists' (archive)(post)
Iran demands West 'show findings' as new video reveals aircraft was struck before fiery crash (archive)(post)
Warren town hall interrupted by angry protester accusing her of ‘siding with terrorists’ (archive)(post)
Trump administration announces new sanctions on Iran (archive)(post)
Prepare For the Worst From Iran Cyber Attacks, As DHS Issues Warning: Experts (archive)(post)
Trump tells Fox News' Laura Ingraham 'four embassies' were targeted in imminent threat from Iran (archive)(post)
Trump tweets support for Iranian protesters as they demand Khamenei quit (archive)(post)
Trump warns Iran against ‘another massacre’ as protests flare over downed jet (archive)(post)

January 12th:
Trump tweet in Farsi 'the most liked Persian tweet' in history of Twitter (archive)(post)
Iraq warned to keep US troops or risk financial blow-WSJ (archive)(post)
Iran arrests UK ambassador in what Britain calls ‘flagrant violation of international law’ (archive)(post)

January 13th:
Trump authorized Soleimani's killing 7 months ago, with conditions (archive)(post)

edit: This is a WIP. All links are posted in the order they appear in the thread, not in chronological order of their publication.


---Original OP before the merge---
Iraqi supporters of Iran-backed militia attack US Embassy
https://apnews.com/75228a8a607a44863b57021ac33264dc (http://archive.vn/ljm9Y)

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA12 minutes ago

BAGHDAD (AP) — Dozens of angry Iraqi Shiite militia supporters broke into the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Tuesday after smashing a main door and setting fire to a reception area, prompting tear gas and sounds of gunfire.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene saw flames rising from inside the compound and at least three U.S. soldiers on the roof of the main building inside embassy. It was not clear what caused the fire at the reception area near the parking lot of the compound. A man on a loudspeaker urged the mob not to enter the compound, saying: “The message was delivered.”

The embassy attack followed deadly U.S. airstrikes on Sunday that killed 25 fighters of the Iran-backed militia in Iraq, the Kataeb Hezbollah. The U.S. military said it was in retaliation for last week’s killing of an American contractor in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base that it had blamed on the militia.

Dozens of protesters marched inside the compound after smashing the gate used by cars to enter the embassy. The protesters, many in militia uniform, stopped in a corridor after about 5 meters (16 feet), and were only about 200 meters away from the main building. Half a dozen U.S. soldiers were seen on the roof of the main building, their guns were pointed at the protesters.

Smoke from the tear gas rose in the area, and at least three of the protesters appeared to have difficulties breathing. It wasn’t immediately known whether the embassy staff had remained inside the main building.

The protesters hanged a poster on the wall: “America is an aggressor.”

Shouting “Down, Down USA,” the crowd tried to push inside the embassy grounds, hurling water and stones over its walls. They raised yellow militia flags and taunted the embassy’s security staff who remained behind the glass windows in the gates’ reception area. They sprayed graffiti on the wall and windows in red in support of the Kataeb Hezbollah militia: “Closed in the name of the resistance.”

Hundreds of angry protesters, some in militia uniforms, set up tents outside the embassy. As tempers rose, the mob set fire to three trailers used by security guards along the embassy wall.

No one was immediately reported hurt in the rampage and security staff had withdrawn to inside the embassy earlier, soon after protesters gathered outside.

The U.S. attack — the largest targeting an Iraqi state-sanctioned militia in recent years — and the subsequent calls by the militia for retaliation, represent a new escalation in the proxy war between the U.S. and Iran playing out in the Middle East.

Tuesday’s attempted embassy storming took place after mourners and supporters held funerals for the militia fighters killed in a Baghdad neighborhood, after which they marched on to the heavily fortified Green Zone and kept walking till they reached the sprawling U.S. Embassy there.

AP journalists then saw the crowd as they tried to scale the walls of the embassy, in what appeared to be an attempt to storm it, shouting “Down, down USA!” and “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday’s strikes send the message that the U.S. will not tolerate actions by Iran that jeopardize American lives.

The Iranian-backed Iraqi militia had vowed Monday to retaliate for the U.S. military strikes. The attack and vows for revenge raised concerns of new attacks that could threaten American interests in the region.

The U.S. attack also outraged both the militias and the Iraqi government, which said it will reconsider its relationship with the U.S.-led coalition — the first time it has said it will do so since an agreement was struck to keep some U.S. troops in the country. It called the attack a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty.

In a partly televised meeting Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi told Cabinet members that he had tried to stop the U.S. operation “but there was insistence” from American officials.

The U.S. military said “precision defensive strikes” were conducted against five sites of Kataeb Hezbollah, or Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq and Syria. The group, which is a separate force from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, operates under the umbrella of the state-sanctioned militias known collectively as the Popular Mobilization Forces. Many of them are supported by Iran.

.

 

[zap2theextreme]

The embassy attack was the final straw to end this piece of dogshit.
"orange men bad" people really can piss off and hide with obama and clintons if they like the "bengahzi" method more, while the Trump actually deals with this.

Let's hope you get to be the first into the trenches for daddy Trump!

Qasem Soleimani has been a front-line general/leader that has always operated in the open leading his troops and militias in Syria and Iraq for years. Hence why you'll hear rumors of his death in the battlefields up until now.

It will be cool to see how the White House twists assassinating one of the most important figures and commanders in the fight against ISIS, Al Nusra, and Al Qaeda into an excuse for the absolute smooth brained hogs that are the American public into welcoming another forever war.

 

[Y2K Baby]

Where's the poll option for "yes, we'll invade them but that isn't a good thing, you fucking sped. When has a regime change in the Middle East ever worked?"

Fuck this shit. Fuck this administration for more desert levels in Jew of Duty: Global Whorefare. Allah bless Iran.

 

[haurchefant]

I love Orange Man

 

[It's HK-47]

Iran General Soleimani Lightly Wounded in Syria

Gen. Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations wing, was lightly injured in fighting against Syria rebels near Aleppo, a monitoring group and a security source said Wednesday.

www.defensenews.com

In November of 2015, Soleimani was reported as being "lightly wounded" during a fight with Syrian rebels, but other outlets reported that he was significantly injured in this attack. Prior to November of 2015, Soleimani made speeches and videos on a regular basis, but ever since he was "lightly wounded" during that fight, he's been all but completely silent other than these incredibly ambiguous "appearances" where it's not clear whether or not he's actually discussing current events. They could have all easily just been recordings that were taken at an earlier date, because he stopped discussing any recent events and only seemed to be making vague, non-descript references.

Other than that, the last known photograph that was taken of him was from October of 2015.

Suleimani represented the iron fist of the Iranian mullahs. His deputy Hossein Hamedani was killed in Syria on October 7, 2015. Unlike Suleimani, the Iranians actually released photos of Hamedani's body. He'd been killed by a fuel-air explosive, since he had a massive black eye. It was the shockwave that got him.

The initial report on Suleimani said that he was burned beyond recognition, but now they're saying that he was "torn to pieces" and had to be identified by his ring. Because magically that hand just happened to be the only thing that survived a body-rending explosion. Oh, please. In any event, it's confirmed that he's dead now, which is the important thing.

Hamedani and Suleimani were the most hated men in Iran--hence why they're currently celebrating his "death"-- since they were responsible for both internal and external conflicts and chaos. It was Hamedani who tore down the Green Revolution of 2009, while Suleimani organized foreign militia used to kill Iranian protestors.

Again, please try and remember that I very frequently tell people that I am a crazy person. It's also entirely possible that the Iranian state media is completely telling the truth and there's absolutely no reason to ask any questions. It is also possible that I am insane.

 

[DrunkJoe]

I thiught Trumps syria missle strike was pathetic since the Russians were warned.

This strike was on point. Take out the general responsible. Trump was right, this will not be Benghazi.

 

[Shield Breaker]

I've seen a lot of people imply he's doing it to shore up his vote for 2020 - but honestly the Trump base is fairly torn on this - most are irritated because they don't want him listening to NeoCons who want a war.

I imagine we're not seeing people going into Iran in a few weeks or anything, it's likely the strikes are like the ones on the Russian Syrian base a few years ago. A warning shot as it were, only this one is a bit more on-the-nose because they just took out the person at the root of Irans funny business,

If anything, he will pull a Woodrow Wilson and keep us out of a war until after the election.

 

[pipcome]

Let's hope you get to be the first into the trenches for daddy Trump!

I love how "orange men bad" people always see the worst not because of reality but because they want it to happen just so they can blame trump.
You are on the same hyperbol/selling bullshit to lurkers level as leftists who screamed trump will start ww3 with north korea, china, europe, iran or that he will crush the economy and cause the end of the world the day he is sworn in.

 

[kcbbq]

Iran's Supreme leader was just saying Trump couldn't do anything while smirking. Is crow halal?

 

[StarkRavingMad]

I've seen a lot of people imply he's doing it to shore up his vote for 2020 - but honestly the Trump base is fairly torn on this - most are irritated because they don't want him listening to NeoCons who want a war.

I imagine we're not seeing people going into Iran in a few weeks or anything, it's likely the strikes are like the ones on the Russian Syrian base a few years ago. A warning shot as it were, only this one is a bit more on-the-nose because they just took out the person at the root of Irans funny business,

I totally understand why people are concerned (and even upset or angry). Nobody should be rooting for yet another "regime change" war ... Especially since the US has a bad track record with them, and especially in recent history.

However, you can't just do nothing when someone acted first. I'm not throwing confetti around over the possibility of another war. However, I am glad that there was a response to an attack that was done on us first. I am very much hoping that Iran gets the message and leaves things at that ( ). If not, then I want the US to react accordingly again.

 

[zap2theextreme]

I love how "orange men bad" people always see the worst not because of reality but because they want it to happen just so they can blame trump.
You are on the same hyperbol/selling bullshit to lurkers level as leftists who screamed trump will start ww3 with north korea, china, europe, iran or that he will crush the economy and cause the end of the world the day he is sworn in.

Hey, that's great retard. Hope to see you in a flag draped coffin sometime soon. Don't worry you won't die in vain because you and every jackbooted shithead will make real great meat-shields protecting oilfields so some corporate cocksucker can get a 0.1% bump in his stock portfolio.

 

[RodgerDodger]

All I know is if either Saudi Arabia or Israel gets dragged into whatever that happens, we're getting dragged into it.

They both already are dragged into it. Soleimani was the guy leading the Yemeni Houthi's in their war against the government and Saudi Arabia. The House of Saud was sucked into it years ago. And Israel has always been in it. Remember who's head the gun that is the Iranian Nuke and Missile program is pointed at. "Everybody do what we say or the Jews get it!" is the Iranian SOP. Just as it was the Iraqi before them.

And for those claiming that Trump is in some way crazy or shooting from the hip. He's largely running the same play book on Iran that Reagan used very effectively in the 80's. Heck todays strike killing Soleimani is astonishing for it's brilliance. The US Administration struck the one Iranian asset that the Iranian people utterly despise. The single individual that embodies the massive drain on their treasury of constant foreign terrorist programs. He was hit and killed on foreign soil stirring up war with the neighbors, again. The Average Iranian will be overjoyed with the news of him dying, but fearful of what price will now be extracted from themselves for his and the Mullah's follies. Trump responded in the one way that not only would not provoke outrage in the Iranian people, but that they would actually support. While still greatly damaging the Mullah's. Hat's off to the Intelligence and Operational teams that were able to put such a well placed decapitating strike together in under a day.

 

[FrickinFrackinFruckin]

Nuke them, nuke them all. Fuck the mooslims! Does the US really need the oil from the middle East? When we can pump our own from the gulf or get it from Canadia? So sick of building infrastructure for these shitty 3rd world countries when we know it's just gonna be blown up a year later! I'm sick of wasting tax payers money on this shit!

 

[Spooky Bones]

Hey, that's great exceptional individual. Hope to see you in a flag draped coffin sometime soon. Don't worry you won't die in vain because you and every jackbooted shithead will make real great meat-shields protecting oilfields so some corporate cocksucker can get a 0.1% bump in his stock portfolio.

Nice making light of servicepeople's death faggot. Now, I am not one for dying for the Jews, but ducle et delendum est.

 

[Fanatical Pragmatist]

Where's the poll option for "yes, we'll invade them but that isn't a good thing, you fucking sped. When has a regime change in the Middle East ever worked?"

Fuck this shit. Fuck this administration for more desert levels in Jew of Duty: Global Whorefare. Allah bless Iran.

Why would we invade them?

(Assuming it was a US strike that got him) we basically just sent the message of "attack our embassy, lose a general".

The ball is now in Iran's court if they want to lose some more generals.

 

[Piga Dgrifm]

Can we call it World War thREEEEEEEEEEEEEE?

 

[Still Anonymous For This]

Trump turned back a retaliatory strike at the last possible minute when Iran shot our drone down earlier this year. I saw his reasoning: it was a piece of equipment and not worth a use of force response.

Trump is definitely not pro-war, but I'm feeling like the Iranians fucked up on this one. I suspect F-35s are going to be dropping cool shit soon. He's given the Iranians a long rope and they're hanging themselves with it.

This dude must be a fucking psychic.

10/10.

 

[RodgerDodger]

Nuke them, nuke them all. Fuck the mooslims! Does the US really need the oil from the middle East? When we can pump our own from the gulf or get it from Canadia? So sick of building infrastructure for these shitty 3rd world countries when we know it's just gonna be blown up a year later! I'm sick of wasting tax payers money on this shit!

But it's so much more satisfying to drop the super amazing Ninja Missile's on them one at a time. It dices, it slices, it puree's and it still won't make a mess of civilian bystanders!

 

[Y2K Baby]

The ball is now in Iran's court if they want to lose some more generals.

Why would we invade them?

Iran declare: mad.

 

[ShortBusDriver]

Trump should have just pulled an Obama and blamed the attack on the embassy on a movie that played twice in an empty California theater.

 

[Munchingonfish]

Fuck, if there is a World War III all our lolcows are going to die. I guess Trump is gonna be the one that manages to end Kiwi Farms lmao

Remember when that was supposed to start after Trump sent a MOAB into Syria?