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.

.

 

[BONE_Buddy]

Aurora Intel on Twitter

“@ManotoNews Protesters have begun clashing with security forces who are reportedly #IRGC Basij’s. #Iran https://t.co/PZ55WCGuSu”

twitter.com

Aurora Intel on Twitter

“@ManotoNews #IRGC Basij security forces beating and arresting protesters in Rasht, Gilan Province, #Iran. https://t.co/xIzePR5inT”

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Aurora Intel on Twitter

“@ManotoNews Another video from @ManotoNews reportedly showing #Iran|ian secruity forces chasing protesters. https://t.co/LxbOwRUdPe”

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Aurora Intel on Twitter

“Tear Gas being fired at protesters according to this tweet, initial clouds of gas can be seen in the first few seconds in seems? #Iran https://t.co/emCRpFn164”

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🇮🇱🇺🇸Bamdad_Sepeed از بازداشتیها بگو 🇺🇸🇮🇱 on Twitter

“, [Jan 12, 2020 at 16:46] #کرمانشاه: پرتاب گاز اشک آور به سمت مردم توسط مزدوران خامنه‌ای ۲۲ دی #اعتراضات_سراسری https://t.co/iN7qBNOIIh”

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_

Aurora Intel on Twitter

“Reports of 4 “projectiles” landing close to Balad Air Base, #Iraq hosting #US troops”

twitter.com

Note, these are the shitty bottle rockets.

Super unconfirmed:

Aurora Intel on Twitter

“Update: unconfirmed reports of two #Iraq|i security forces were injured due to the attack.”

twitter.com

 

[Gustav Schuchardt]

Protesters are using their cars to cause traffic jams in central Tehran. Kind of a clever move really. The regime can't do a Tiananmen Square on them if all the roads are blocked.

बाटा भाई / Bata Bhai on Twitter

“@BabakTaghvaee”

twitter.com

Loading…

archive.is

Is this the Islamic Republic regime dying? Probably not unfortunately, but it's definitely got a very nasty case of flu.

 

[dopy]

Is this the Islamic Republic regime dying? Probably not unfortunately, but it's definitely got a very nasty case of flu.

either way, i will personally take the burden of providing a safe haven for 10/10 aryan persian hotties who are seeking a safe haven in this time of need. it's a heavy load to bear, but i swear it that i will take in as many young attractive female iranians between the ages of 18 and 30 without children as i can possibly take care of. please dm me for details if you need shelter.

 

[Comicsgeist]

Protesters are using their cars to cause traffic jams in central Tehran. Kind of a clever move really. The regime can't do a Tiananmen Square on them if all the roads are blocked.

बाटा भाई / Bata Bhai on Twitter

“@BabakTaghvaee”

twitter.com

https://archive.li/KTGjN

View attachment 1095293

Is this the Islamic Republic regime dying? Probably not unfortunately, but it's definitely got a very nasty case of flu.

To get a little accelerationist for a moment, you can wait for the regime to collapse under the weight of sanctions and their own stupidity, but whatever replaces them will be no less antagonistic to the US, perhaps even more so.
You could hope to take advantage of the chaos to tactically strike Iran's nuclear program, even use a proxy like Israel to do it, but that program could still end up in the hands of whackjobs. So perhaps tipping them over and properly taking out their program might be worth goading the goat-fuckers into a short sharp war that the US has the good sense to get in and get out of fast.
Either do it now or let Iran become an even worse North Korea, at least all NK want is some gimmies and to be left alone, a nuclear Iran is literally a ticking bomb that will go off. Better to defuse it now.

 

[Damn Near]

Who is stupid enough to help the British army , the same army who betrayed Eastern European countries during the establishment of the iron curtain and invaded peaceful countries?

the serbs have a saying that roughly translates to "if you trust a Brit, you should be poisoned by your mother's m.ilk". Of course, that's the re.tard calling the kettle re.tarded, but still

 

[Ellesse_warrior]

Protesters are using their cars to cause traffic jams in central Tehran. Kind of a clever move really. The regime can't do a Tiananmen Square on them if all the roads are blocked.

बाटा भाई / Bata Bhai on Twitter

“@BabakTaghvaee”

twitter.com

https://archive.li/KTGjN

View attachment 1095293

Is this the Islamic Republic regime dying? Probably not unfortunately, but it's definitely got a very nasty case of flu.

The Ukrainian protesters did this in 2014 and the government responded with mass arrests of the drivers and eventually shooting live ammunition at the protesters. Hopefully we don't see a repeat of that now in Iran.

 

[Iwasamwillbe]

Iran fucking up every which way now is just amazing.

Trump must have put some sort of meme magic in the drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani.

 

[BONE_Buddy]

Got more for you:

Stuff from last night:

Mike on Twitter

“Faruk the reliable says anti-regime protests erupted tonight in five cities: 1) Tehran, 2) Rasht, 3) Isfahan, 4) Hamedan, and Shiraz.”

twitter.com

Mike on Twitter

“And here is a mash of 3 clips from Rasht, Isfahan, and Hamedan. https://t.co/j3TCbmuaIh”

twitter.com

Mike on Twitter

“The protestors here (Tehran, I think) chant, “Not for Gaza, not for Lebanon—Live for Iran” This “Iran First” agenda is a blunt rejection of all that Soleimani, the Princess Di of terrorism, stood for — only days after his funeral & in reaction to deaths the regime pins on the US...

twitter.com

Mike on Twitter

“Here in Isfahan tonight the — let’s keep reminding ourselves — extremely courageous protestors chant, Reza Shah, Reza Shah, Rest In Peace!” | https://t.co/TXxqPasfyX”

twitter.com

Mike on Twitter

“Who does this insult more — Khamenei or Chris Matthews? The protesters in Tehran tonight chanted, "Dictator, IRGC! You are our ISIS." https://t.co/XQ3bqvLgOn”

twitter.com

Mike on Twitter

“Protestors tonight in Tehran, chanting, “Reformists, fundamentalists, you're time is up!" In other words, the factions inside the regime are just different components of the same corrupt system. https://t.co/57WKtMfMy5”

twitter.com

Mike on Twitter

““Khamenei is a murderer” chanted in Isfahan | https://t.co/eXzTstDekA”

twitter.com

Mike on Twitter

“Well, there it is, clear as day. A decade of Western reporting on Iran flushed down the toilet. They’re chanting, "The regime told us our enemy is the US. But actually, our enemy is right here" | https://t.co/VysDGjNqYQ”

twitter.com

Mike on Twitter

“Protest in Tehran last night. Listen to their voices, hear the size and power of that crowd. This disgusting regime is in real trouble. https://t.co/sE45PBC8PV”

twitter.com

_
More on the "not trampling on the US and Israeli flags" thing:

Mike on Twitter

“Here’s the most beautiful thing you will see today! Students at Beheshti University in Tehran refuse to walk on the US & Israeli flags painted on the ground. They chant, “Basij [the IRGC paramilitary] forces, you are responsible for killing the people.” | https://t.co/dskKJeDa18”

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Mike on Twitter

“A bird’s eye view | https://t.co/YklrAAA59v”

twitter.com

-
More on today's protests:

Mike on Twitter

“A bird’s eye view | https://t.co/YklrAAA59v”

twitter.com

Mike on Twitter

“A bird’s eye view | https://t.co/YklrAAA59v”

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Mehrzad Kohanrouz on Twitter

“Hardline university, seminary students stage rally in front of the British embassy in Tehran, calling for expulsion of UK ambassador - Robert Macaire briefly detained by Iranian security forces after he took part in a vigil held for those killed in the Ukrainian plane crash https://t.co/SkOdpWZkpH”

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Mike on Twitter

“Nightfall, Day 2. What will Day 3 will bring? https://t.co/kexEDmMxsJ”

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Sara on Twitter

“Tonight at Azadi Square , protesters are chanting “ our shame, our shame, is our bum leader “ 1.12.2020 Tehran https://t.co/VqeGjPkaOw”

twitter.com

More from most recent protests:

Aurora Intel - #StayHome on Twitter

“Tear Gas continues to fire towards protesters in #Tehran, #Iran by #IRGC Basij Forces. https://t.co/OoZpginGXA”

twitter.com

Sara on Twitter

“IRGC Started attacking protesters , ppl are inviting each other to keep their calm. They are sheltering in subway . https://t.co/RyM9HBLXJZ”

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Aurora Intel - #StayHome on Twitter

“Protesters ripping down posters of Qassem Soleimani. #Iran https://t.co/Y2VXX4QF3T”

twitter.com

_
A few more things on that new militia rocket attack:

Aurora Intel - #StayHome on Twitter

“#Iraq|i officials confirm 8 “Katyusha” rockets landed at Balad Air Base wounding a total of 4 people including 2 commanders.”

twitter.com

Aurora Intel - #StayHome on Twitter

“Iraqi forces were the injured for clarity.”

twitter.com

_
I'll come back later with more.

 

[thx1138]

Iran fucking up every which way now is just amazing.

Trump must have put some sort of meme magic in the drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani.

There must have been some magic/
in that hellfire they found/
for when they shot it at Iran/
'tism began to spread around

 

[Gustav Schuchardt]

Incidentally it'd be ironic if the anti regime protesters in Iran decide to IED the security forces using some of those shaped charge IEDs that Soleimani and co taught the Iraqi insurgents to use.

So perhaps tipping them over and properly taking out their program might be worth goading the goat-fuckers into a short sharp war that the US has the good sense to get in and get out of fast.

Noooo! Every time the US says it's going to have a short war where it gets in and gets out fast it turns into a multi-decade occupation.

I'm not sure if there's anything the US could do to give the protesters an advantage over the Basiij/Revolutionary Guards but sending in ground troops seems to be a terrible idea.

And most people think that Iran's nuclear facilities are too well dispersed and buried to be vulnerable to an airstrike.

Maybe the US could drop a modern equivalent of Liberator pistols or something. I'm not convinced this would work though - the problem is that when you're dealing a regime which does collective reprisals people are understandably not keen on capping random oppressors and putting their family in the sights of the regime when it comes to reprisals.

It's difficult really. I'd like to see the people who run Iran at the end of a rope, but I'm not at all keen on the West getting involved in regime change given how much it has messed up regime change in the past.

 

[Coolio55]

Oh man, It's so strange all these wacky hijinks are occuring after Boris did nothing even when that passenger plane was mysteriously shot down.
No agent provocateurs here folks!

 

[LetThemEatCake]

Protesters are using their cars to cause traffic jams in central Tehran. Kind of a clever move really. The regime can't do a Tiananmen Square on them if all the roads are blocked.[

They've had basiij shoot protestors from rootops or helicopters before now. Brave protestors, but the regime is fucking horrific in the way it treats its citizens. They also use little motorbikes to weave in and out of crowds and traffic.

 

[Hoplixe]

Who is stupid enough to help the British army , the same army who betrayed Eastern European countries during the establishment of the iron curtain and invaded peaceful countries?

Churchill planned for a third world war (against the Soviets), but no-one was in the mood for another slaughter so soon after the last one had just ended, so he got overruled.
Besides, Britain was bankrupt after fighting 2 world wars which sped up its decline, there's a reason why we don't even have Museum Battleships, we couldn't afford to even keep them afloat.

 

[MediocreMilt]

God, I don't want a war with Iran, but they remind me more and more of Andy Warski's "Aim aim AIIIIIMM!" incident with each passing day.

 

[Gustav Schuchardt]

You can't even criticize the guy for getting involved with political rallies in a shit country.

It's rather clever actually. He went to a vigil for the victims of the plane crash which I'm sure he'd know would turn into an anti regime demo once a bunch of Western governments, including he, pointed out that the regime shot down the plane. Once it did turn into that he left and the regime's goons arrested him, thereby breaking international law. At which point he just explained what he did and they let him go.

It's like he's subtly encouraging the chaos without getting his hands dirty enough to be expelled.

 

[DICKPICSRUS]

2020 is the year that Iran screws itself over
We are truly living in the best timeline

 

[FlightOfTheBumbleBee]

Q predicted this.

 

[Gustav Schuchardt]

They've had basiij shoot protestors from rootops or helicopters before now. Brave protestors, but the regime is fucking horrific in the way it treats its citizens. They also use little motorbikes to weave in and out of crowds and traffic.

Yup, like Neda Agha-Soltan who was shot in the chest by a Basiij member on a roof, more or less at random.

Also look at this

https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/10OSLO67_a.html

DERIVED FROM: DSCG 05-1 (B), (D)

1. (C) SUMMARY: A kidnapped Norwegian student witnessed shocking
atrocities and mass killings occurring inside a Basij camp (see
paragraphs 3 and 4), according to Norwegian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA) officials speaking confidentially. The GON has,
separately, called the Iranian Charge d'Affaires to the carpet to
object to Iran's execution of the first prisoners in the mass
trials currently ongoing. End Summary.

2. (C) Deputy Chief of Mission James T. Heg and Poloff visited MFA
officials Jorn Gjelstad and Torunn Viste, Director and Deputy
Director, respectively, of the MFA Middle East Section, to deliver
reftel demarche (after a longer discussion of Foreign Minister
Stoere's recent trip to the region, reported septel). Near the end
of the discussion, Gjelstad said that he wanted to confidentially
share an eyewitness account of events inside a Basij camp that had
recently come to his attention.

3. (C) Gjelstad said that the account was provided by a Norwegian
graduate student who was doing research in Iran during the
Christmas-New Year's period. The MFA and other Norwegian agencies
believe his account is credible. He is ethnically Norwegian and
has no known political motivation to fabricate a story. According
to the student, he was riding on a Tehran public bus-not
participating in any kind of suspicious or demonstration
activity-when a member of the Basij militia entered, saw he was a
foreigner, and pulled him off. He was placed on the back of a
motorcycle, and a sack was put over his head. He was driven to a
Basij encampment and was forced to watch killings and torture. He
says he witnessed a group of dissidents put in front of a cement
wall, and a riot control truck fitted with a "cowcatcher" (metal
bars and screens designed to move crowds) was driven into them,
crushing them to death. He says he witnessed people being
disemboweled with knives in front of him. He says that a public
bus was driven onto the compound, full of protesters, and the bus
was doused in gasoline and set ablaze, burning everyone inside to
death.

4. (C) The student speaks fluent Persian, and says he overheard two
of the milita having an argument with one another about their
methods. One argued that it was improper to damage public
property-that is, the public bus-when killing protestors. The
other argued that this was justified when defending the
revolutionary ideal. Gjelstad said that the Norwegian student
appeared to have been allowed/forced to see these things precisely
in order to publicize "what could be the outcome if foreigners
continue to circulate within Iran" (Gjelstad's words). The student
was understandably traumatized and proceeded directly to the
Norwegian Embassy upon being released. He then returned to Norway,
and spoke with the MFA. He asked the MFA to raise the issue with
the Iranian embassy in Oslo, but did not want his name mentioned.
The Norwegians raised the issues with the Iranian Charge
d'Affaires, who requested the student's name, which of course was
not disclosed. Emboffs were shocked at Gjelstad's description of
the student's account. Gjelstad referred to the incident as
evidence of "institutionalized perversion" in Iran.

5. (C) Gjelstad said that, in the same meeting with the Iranian
Charge d'Affaires referred to in paragraph 4, MFA officials
protested the execution of the first two "mass trial" defendants,
one of whom was convicted of planning the unrest despite having
been in jail during the entire period. Gjelstad characterized the
current events in Iran as "the beginning of a long and bloody
process of dealing with political opponents."

OSLO 00000067 002 OF 002

6. (C) The Iranian Charge responded to the demarche with surprise
and indignation. Gjelstad said the discussion was "terse" and the
Charge said, "I refuse to accept this demarche." Gjelstad said,
however, that the GON has indications that the demarche was in fact
reported in Tehran.

Normally with this sort of lurid account I'd think it was some sort of trick to drum up support for a war but this was a Norwegian student reporting to the Norwegian embassy. It was only released because of Manning decided to dump all the diplomatic cables into the public domain.

 

[MuuMuu Bunnylips]

YOU NAUGHTY PEOPLE! NO TEA FOR YOU!!!

 

[Marco Fucko]

WORLD WAR 3
BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE