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.

.

 

[MrJokerRager]

Some articles for today's events

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Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr bashes Trump as 'son of gambling halls'

An influential anti-U.S. Iraqi cleric who led a militia that battled American forces during the Iraq War lashed out at President Trump over social media with a series of insults that criticized his former casino empire and his medical deferments during the Vietnam War.

www.foxnews.com

Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr bashes Trump as 'son of gambling halls' …

archived 8 Jan 2020 03:19:07 UTC

archive.li

An influential anti-U.S. Iraqi cleric who led a militia that battled American forces during the Iraq War lashed out at President Trump over social media with a series of insults that criticized his former casino empire and his medical deferments during the Vietnam War.

Muqtada al-Sadr, a Shia cleric, issued his remarks via a lengthy Twitter post on Monday," the Military Times reported.

Al-Sadr has criticized U.S. involvement in the region and was a key leader behind some of the most fierce battles against U.S. troops during the Iraq War.

In his Twitter post, he made fun of Trump, saying his "voice and tweets are more strident than sound of donkey.”

“Your home is less stable than spider web. Your weapon is weaker than mosquito bites,” he wrote, before asking if Trump “forgot Vietnam, or are you anxious for a new swamp?”

The cleric also called the president the “the son of gambling halls." Al-Sadr then urged his followers to come together and defend Iran if the U.S. invades the country.

“Your intentions have become clear today. He who wanted to liberate us yesterday, today wants us on our knees,” he wrote. “If you want my advice, don’t be like your predecessor [former President George W. Bush] or else you shall regret it.”

Al-Sadr has criticized the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' elite Quds Force, in a drone strike in Iraq last week.

Trump and Iranian officials have traded insults and threats in recent days with Iran vowing revenge and Trump promising to use military force should the Islamic Republic target American sites.

Iraq has become a flashpoint in the tensions between the two countries. On Sunday, Iraqi lawmakers approved a resolution to expel U.S. troops from the country.

On Tuesday, Iran said it fired surface-to-surface missiles at two Iraqi bases housing U.S troops. State media reported the attack was revenge for Soleimani's death.

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World Series champ Aubrey Huff slammed over 'joke' to kidnap Iranian women

World Series champion Aubrey Huff got into a war of words on social media over his “joke” about kidnapping Iranians and making them "fan [...] and feed" Americans.

www.foxnews.com

World Series champ Aubrey Huff slammed over 'joke' to kidnap Iranian …

archived 8 Jan 2020 03:19:54 UTC

archive.li

World Series champion Aubrey Huff got into a war of words on social media Tuesday over his "joke" about kidnapping Iranian women and making them "fan [...] and feed" Americans, "amongst other things."

Huff -- a former third baseman who has been previously criticized for tweets about preparing for a civil war if Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., wins the election over President Trump, and telling those protesting and clogging up airports to get a job -- was responding to a tweet that talked about invading Iran and kidnapping their women in less than delicate terms.

“Let’s get a flight over and kidnap about 10 each. We can bring them back here as they fan us and feed us grapes, amongst other things...” Huff tweeted in response to the initial tweet, which was later deleted.

Huff later explained his tweet, calling it a joke and asking whether anyone has a sense of humor.

“Does nobody have a sense of humor anymore!?” he said. “The way Iranian women are treated over there I simply wanted [to] say I’d go there [to] rescue them & bring them back [to] the states. And they would be so thankful [to] escape that hell that they’d fan me & feed me grapes. Never said rape!”

He added: “In light of today’s post about rescuing Iranian women from that s--t hole. This is what I would imagine grateful Iranian women would do to show their appreciation to any man who saved them from the a--holes that beat them, & make them wear a long tunic & scarf in 110 degree heat."

Huff’s tweets were slammed across social media.

Huff played 13 seasons in the majors with the Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants. He won two World Series titles with the Giants before retiring after the 2012 season.

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Soleimani supporter arrested in Kosovo, allegedly incited terror acts

A woman who criticized the United States over social media for the killing of a top Iranian general was arrested Tuesday in Kosovo.

www.foxnews.com

Soleimani supporter arrested in Kosovo, allegedly incited terror acts…

archived 8 Jan 2020 03:20:24 UTC

archive.li

A woman who criticized the United States on social media for the killing of a top Iranian general was arrested Tuesday in Kosovo.

Ikballe Berisha Huduti will remain in detention for 48 hours pending a court decision for incitement to commit a terrorist offense, Reuters reported.

Prosecutors said Huduti, the founder of a now-defunct pro-Islamic group, posted comments on Facebook that were critical of the Jan. 3 killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' elite Quds Force, in a drone strike in Iraq last week.

“By killing the master of the house you have killed all members of the family, then revenge is obligatory but it has no border,” Huduti wrote. In one post, Huduti described Solemani as a "great man," Radio Free Europe reported.

She said she deleted the posts and that her words were taken out of context. Huduti said she previously praised American democracy and U.S. support for Kosovo in 1999, during the conflict between ethnic Serbs and Albanians in the former Yugoslavia.

U.S. officials said Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American troops and was planning attacks just before his death. Many leaders in Kosovo have expressed support for the U.S. airstrike.

"I strongly support #US reaction against Iran’s activities in the Middle East that have caused terror, instability and global concern," Kosovo's president, Hashim Thaci, tweeted last week. "We stand together in protecting our values and our way of life and in search of peace and security."

"Kosovo remains unwavering in support of the US in the right to self-defense. The latest self-defense actions against General Soleiman are defense, not only for the United States but for freedom and democracy everywhere," Kosovo's outgoing prime minister, Ramush Haradinaj, posted to Facebook.

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Michael Moore apologizes to Iran on behalf of the American people for airstrike that killed Soleimani

Filmmaker Michael Moore has apologized to Iran on behalf of the American people, writing in a tweet to the embattled nation that he “deeply regrets” the airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump that killed Qassem Soleimani.

www.foxnews.com

Michael Moore apologizes to Iran on behalf of the American people for…

archived 8 Jan 2020 03:41:42 UTC

archive.li

Filmmaker Michael Moore has apologized to Iran on behalf of the American people, writing in a tweet to the embattled nation that he “deeply regrets” the airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump that killed Qassem Soleimani.

“Sir, I deeply regret the violence on our behalf by a man that most Americans have never voted for. Avoid power. A sincere man, Michael Moore, an American citizen,” Moore tweeted in Farsi on Tuesday, according to an automatic Twitter translation.

The “Bowling for Columbine” and “Fahrenheit 11/9” moviemaker also issued a public plea to the Ayatollah and the president of Iran to hold back on engaging in any acts of violence against the United States – asking them, instead, to let the American people vote Trump out of office in November or for the Senate to remove him from office.

“I want you not to respond violently, but to act bravely instead,” Moore pleaded, according to an automatic Google translation. “We will take care of this in our Senate or at the ballot box, non-violently.”

The liberal documentary director added: “Violence only increases violence.”

Moore’s apology to Iran rang similar to one issued to the country last week by “Charmed” alum Rose McGowan, who tweeted her own apology and claimed that the American people are being held hostage by a “terrorist regime,” and again, pleaded with the country not to ‘kill us.”

"Dear #Iran, The USA has disrespected your country, your flag, your people. 52% of us humbly apologize. We want peace with your nation. We are being held hostage by a terrorist regime. We do not know how to escape. Please do not kill us. #Soleimani."

McGowan was immediately criticized and later reeled in her tweet, saying that she “freaked out.”

“Ok, so I freaked out because we may have an impending war. Sometimes it’s okay to freak out on those in power,” she wrote. “It’s our right. That is what so many Brave soldiers have fought for. That is democracy. I do not want any more American soldiers killed. That’s it.”

She issued another response, adding the while she doesn’t side with Iran, she certainly isn't siding with the United States on the international matter either.

“I do not side with Iran, but I most definitely do not side with the USA.”

 

[Kornheiser]

Lol. You can't make this up. What a day

View attachment 1087895

Iran state TV says Ukrainian airplane crashes near Tehran

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian state TV is reporting a Ukrainian airplane carrying 180 passengers and crew has crashed near an airport in the capital, Tehran. There is no immediate word on...

apnews.com

Is the masked man working for Trump now?

 

[Marissa Moira]

Someone should start making shirts of Ayatollah Bomyaholea

 

[Botchy Galoop]

Tinfoil hat firmly in place.
Would Iran shoot down an Ukrainian passenger plane to curry favor with Russia, especially if it had American passengers on board?? (and get some revenge for their passenger jet being shot down a few years back?)

 

[who dare wins?]

Is the masked man working for Trump now?

Looks like some CIA tomfuckery is beginning to happen. I wonder if anyone important were on there.

 

[Regu]

Supposed footage of the Ukrainian Passenger Plane, which seems to be PS752, crashing

Pedram Azimaie on Twitter

“@flightradar24 Crash moment, Credit: unknown https://t.co/QvGtSW22gQ”

twitter.com

either they suffered a massive fuel issue, or the Iranians actually fucking shot it with a missile, as that thing seems to be a flaming wreck.

 

[theshep]

Something is going on. Footage of it falling out of the sky on fire. Defence system failure? Accidentally shot down by someone?

 

[HOMO FOR LIFE]

Supposed footage of the Ukrainian Passenger Plane, which seems to be PS752, crashing

Pedram Azimaie on Twitter

“@flightradar24 Crash moment, Credit: unknown https://t.co/QvGtSW22gQ”

twitter.com

either they suffered a massive fuel issue, or the Iranians actually fucking shot it with a missile, as that thing seems to be a flaming wreck.

PLS THOR ORDIN ALLAH A THOUSAND DEAD GODS LET IT BE IRAN ATTACKING RUSSIA

 

[Kane Lives]

Lol. You can't make this up. What a day

View attachment 1087895

Iran state TV says Ukrainian airplane crashes near Tehran

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian state TV is reporting a Ukrainian airplane carrying 180 passengers and crew has crashed near an airport in the capital, Tehran. There is no immediate word on...

apnews.com

Did Iran do an oopsie and shot down civilians instead? That would be a supreme foot in the mouth moment.

 

[Iwasamwillbe]

I almost wish MrTickles was unbanned from A&H just so I could watch him pathetically try to spin this weak shit from Iran as a sign of the immanent downfall of the US.

 

[WonderWino]

Supposed footage of the Ukrainian Passenger Plane, which seems to be PS752, crashing

Pedram Azimaie on Twitter

“@flightradar24 Crash moment, Credit: unknown https://t.co/QvGtSW22gQ”

twitter.com

either they suffered a massive fuel issue, or the Iranians actually fucking shot it with a missile, as that thing seems to be a flaming wreck.

Third possibility is some dumbass planted a bomb of some kind. I would think that a missile would cause more of an outright explosion. That looks either fuel related or something small scale exploded on board

 

[Christ Cried]

 

[verissimus]

Lol. You can't make this up. What a day

View attachment 1087895

Iran state TV says Ukrainian airplane crashes near Tehran

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian state TV is reporting a Ukrainian airplane carrying 180 passengers and crew has crashed near an airport in the capital, Tehran. There is no immediate word on...

apnews.com

...wtf is going on.

Edit : ...ffs, it annoys me to even think and say the Left is going to exploit this and pin it on Trump. SMH.

 

[Sam Losco]

Third possibility is some dumbass planted a bomb of some kind. I would think that a missile would cause more of an outright explosion. That looks either fuel related or something small scale exploded on board

If the missile was a proximity instead of direct hit, it could easily cause something like this. Or if it got a direct hit on the wing instead of the main body.

 

[RodgerDodger]

Tinfoil hat firmly in place.
Would Iran shoot down an Ukrainian passenger plane to curry favor with Russia, especially if it had American passengers on board?? (and get some revenge for their passenger jet being shot down a few years back?)

never blame on malice what incompetence fear and stupidity make more likely. Yeah they probably shot down the airliner. They probably didn’t mean to.

 

[IAmNotAlpharius]

Is the masked man working for Trump now?

Would it hurt to remove the mask?

 

[theshep]

Did Iran do an oopsie and shot down civilians instead? That would be a supreme foot in the mouth moment.

Would be my guess too.

Reporting from Dubai (take it for what it's worth).

 

[Regu]

My question is, if they did actually shoot it down, did they mean to shoot it down? Or did some tard saw a plane and thought "oh shit an american bomber"?
Edit:

Strategic Sentinel on Twitter

“Al Hadath making the claim that #Ukraine International Airline #UIA flight number #PS752 B737 that went down in #Tehran #Iran was accidentally shot down by Anti-Aircraft units in the city. Take with a major grain of salt for the time being. https://t.co/jN1axQmtBI”

twitter.com

A Y Y L M A O

 

[Christ Cried]

I'm genuinely apprehensive about this situation. Shit hit the fan pretty quickly. If Iran took down that Ukrainian jet, what consequences could that have?

 

[Jet Fuel Johnny]

Some people seem to forget that there are factors in Middle Eastern diplomacy which don't exist in civilized places, like honor and saving face.
Right now the Iranians are honor bound to make noise and blame everyone and their dog for it, so Israel taking a step back allows them to pretend like they had less to do with it although everyone can be pretty sure they had at least something to do with it. While the Iranians are pissed they probably don't want to escalate with the US, so they need a way out without losing face.

Fuck them.

Dishonor on their house. Dishonor on them. Dishonor on their fucking cow.

I'm tired of allowing these jumped up Bronze Age monkeys to save face. It gives them the same goddamn attitude that Saddam had after GW1.

"The loser, and STILL CHAMPION!" bullshit.

Arabs and all their misbegotten ilk only understand one thing. They don't respect potential strength. They don't respect what you *could* do, they only respect one fucking thing.

What you DO and what they know you WILL do.

For 40 fucking years we've let those insane goat rapers who slavishly follow the commandments of a goddamn child raping cross dressing weirdo get away with shit to "save face" and where's it led us?

A mountain of fucking dead. On our side. On the side of people in the middle. In many cases, of innocents.

All to let some barbaric towel wearing motherfuckers who screw underage children and throw people off of rooftops when they aren't burning them alive to save face.

Fine. Let's save face them.

We should hold them down, cut it off with a rusty piece of metal, and put it in a box to save it to show any dipshit third world monkeys what happens now. That we're fucking DONE letting these little pissants kill our people to make themselves feel better about being little more than Bronze Age retards.