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.

.

 

[Sissy Galvez]

Let’s go over the series of events and think about why blue checks on twitter are stroll screaming about Drumpf.

1. Trump kills a terrorist general plotting attacks in Iraq in Iraqi soil
2. Iran blows up a civilian airplane, lies about it at first then owns up to it after the US calls them out.
3. Iran goes after the British ambassador and arrests him for just being on the street during a protest

 

[Agent of Z.O.G.]

I hope more countries make being a bong illegal.

 

[TowinKarz]

Weak agitation attempt to try and provoke a US military response to take the heat off

If a shot down plane of innocents didn't do it, hassling an ambassador won't either.

 

[BONE_Buddy]

Donald J. Trump on Twitter

“خطاب به رهبران ايران: معترضان خود را نكشيد. هزاران تن تاكنون به دست شما كشته يا زنداني شده اند، و جهان نظاره گر است. مهمتر از ان، ايالات متحده نظاره گر است. اينترنت را دوباره وصل كنيد و به خبرنگاران اجازه دهيد ازادانه حركت كنند! كشتار مردم بزرگ ايران را متوقف كنيد! https://t.co/rzpx3Nfn03”

twitter.com

Mike on Twitter

“Faruk counts ten cities that have seen significant protests.”

twitter.com

Aurora Intel - #StayHome on Twitter

“#IRGC Basij security forces firing at protesters. #Iran https://t.co/ssZkYg3tlD”

twitter.com

Aurora Intel - #StayHome on Twitter

“There are unconfirmed reports circulating of protestors shot dead on Azadi Street, #Tehran and a video circulating on blood on the pavements, I’m looking for confirmation. Will update accordingly. #Iran”

twitter.com

Aurora Intel - #StayHome on Twitter

“Protests have begun burning a billboard of Qassem Soleimani, #Iran #IranProtests https://t.co/D3u1YSsyb2”

twitter.com

Aurora Intel - #StayHome on Twitter

“Video of protesters driving over an image of Khamenei, #Iran. https://t.co/wE5p6tnleu”

twitter.com

Aurora Intel - #StayHome on Twitter

“Anti riot police in Sanandaj, West #Iran beating protesters. #IranProtests https://t.co/GEll84gXEN”

twitter.com

Babak Taghvaee on Twitter

“#BREAKING: In another part of #Tehran, tens of thousands have gathered in Sadeghiyeh Square & are protesting against #Iran's Islamic Regime over shot-down of Flight #PS752 by #IRGC. #IranProtests https://t.co/UV3jVOmFtf”

twitter.com

Babak Taghvaee on Twitter

“Right now in Sadeghiyeh Square of #Tehran protesters chant "If you want to fight, we are ready for that" during the #IranProtests against #Iran's Islamic Regime over shot-down of Flight #PS752 of #Ukraine International Airlines by #IRGC. https://t.co/hox26C1Kuv”

twitter.com

Iran News Wire on Twitter

“@khamenei_ir Jan 12, Tehran, #Iran Protesters especially women have blocked Enghelab Street in Tehran asking others to join #IranProtests. #IranProtests2020 https://t.co/eRIOuNIu92”

twitter.com

Mike on Twitter

“Security services shoot protesters In Tehran. These guy says, “We've seen 7 ppl shot." https://t.co/wHAuGckZfN”

twitter.com

Mike on Twitter

“The lack of respect for Soleimani is contagious! | https://t.co/jIHbuUuItf”

twitter.com

Mike on Twitter

“Wounded from live fire on the streets of Tehran. https://t.co/4E0GyBWZOT”

twitter.com

Mike on Twitter

“And now in Iraq, in Karbala, protestors torch the HQ of the Badr organization, an Iran-affiliated militia | https://t.co/R6KqzpcKdN”

twitter.com

 

[mr.moon1488]

It's amazing how much Muslim countries fight against each other.

 

[HOMO FOR LIFE]

It's amazing how much Muslim countries fight against each other.

One way or another Muslims will plot each other's demise until one nation comes out alive. That nation is going to exert its dominion over Europe if US and Europe completely backs away from the middle East.

It is in the interest of the america to keep each middle East nation weak and divided.....to protect itself.

 

[thx1138]

I hope the Iranian people overthrow their government, and every last Basij is hung by the neck until dead.

 

[HumanHive]

These protests have as much chance of success as the Hong Kong protests. Nobody in the military will support them.

 

[Easterling]

flagrant violation of international law

Its not like the middle east has a great track record of abidding by any international law so I dare say that the bar is pretty fucking low on this one.

 

[Your Weird Fetish]

A shame we can't somehow give them guns.

 

[CWCchange]

Rob Macaire, who has been Britain’s envoy to the Islamic republic since March 2018, was arrested as he stopped at a barber shop for a haircut after attending a vigil for the victims of a Ukrainian jetliner that crashed in Tehran last week, the BBC reported.

Well there's the crime, getting a haircut in a Muslim country!

lol Britain will do nothing

If they did, you can only imagine how bad they would fuck it up. Even on British soil, once upon a time...

Two hostages were killed, the SAS was accused of "unnecessarily" killing two of the gunmen, and the only surviving gunman only got twenty-seven fucking years in prison.

One way or another Muslims will plot each other's demise until one nation comes out alive. That nation is going to exert its dominion over Europe if US and Europe completely backs away from the middle East.

It is in the interest of the america to keep each middle East nation weak and divided.....to protect itself.

Muslims will kill each other to extinction before ever uniting and even being able to attack Israel, contrary to the Neocohen narrative.

 

[DumbDude42]

honestly, dude's a retard for leaving his embassy at all during a time of crisis, and he's a double retard for showing up at and taking part in public events.

 

[OnMoTi]

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.

Why? Fewer sand savages on this planet is a net benefit for everybody.

 

[Ow The Edge]

These protests have as much chance of success as the Hong Kong protests. Nobody in the military will support them.

Depends, really. The regular military gets treated like shit by the mullahs so they can lavish goodies on the IRGC. I'm no Iranian so I can't tell you how things really are, but regimes have seemed monolithic and all-powerful before until suddenly they weren't.

 

[Ellesse_warrior]

Why? Fewer sand savages on this planet is a net benefit for everybody.

I can't think of anything worse than a government that murders it's own citizens

 

[HumanHive]

Depends, really. The regular military gets treated like shit by the mullahs so they can lavish goodies on the IRGC. I'm no Iranian so I can't tell you how things really are, but regimes have seemed monolithic and all-powerful before until suddenly they weren't.
View attachment 1095776

It's all a matter of who benefits from the revolution. Iran's regular military wants to be a regional power, which is what the mullahs want as well. If Iran enters a civil war, which is what would happen cause the Revolutionary Guard ain't gonna just lay down and die, then the Saudi's, Egyptians, and Israelis benefit from the power vaccum. Not to mention how actual regional powers like Russia and China feel about the situation.

Iran prepared for this, really, by having the Guards seperate from the regular army. It's like a gun to the head of the whole nation. "Support the Islamic Revolution, or else."

 

[Ow The Edge]

It's all a matter of who benefits from the revolution. Iran's regular military wants to be a regional power, which is what the mullahs want as well. If Iran enters a civil war, which is what would happen cause the Revolutionary Guard ain't gonna just lay down and die, then the Saudi's, Egyptians, and Israelis benefit from the power vaccum. Not to mention how actual regional powers like Russia and China feel about the situation.

Iran prepared for this, really, by having the Guards seperate from the regular army. It's like a gun to the head of the whole nation. "Support the Islamic Revolution, or else."

Again, surprises do happen. Khamenei can't use his right arm because a bomb in a tape recorder nearly killed him a while back. Maybe the next one will succeed. Or maybe life under a poverty-stricken theocracy just plain old sucks enough that the government can't keep it afloat forever.

 

[Consenticles]

Glassing Iran is the easy answer. But ask yourself, if this were your country protesting their own government, would you be horrified at the very idea of your country getting nuked into the stone age because of the people in charge?

"But consenticles, it is more than just the people in charge!"

Yes, agreed. There are some fucking devils out there. But look at these protestors, gathering because their government fucking shot down a plane. Would you not do the same in the United States?

These people are trying to do what is right, their very presence shows us that Iran's loudest are the most violent, but look how many of these normally quiet majority actually give a shit about their standing in the international community.

These regular people are just scared that some other country is going to want to measure their dick and drop a nuke on them, and they have no way of speaking this for the world to hear.

So what do we do about this?

Well fuck, that is not an easy question. First let's look at the more recent events....

Their general gets killed in a precise strike, killing no innocent civilians. They fucking targeted these vehicles and only these vehicles. Compared to Iran's artillery, this is god-tier levels of accuracy.

I want us all to just pull out and let these countries deal with their shit internally, but I think we all know that is an impossibility without some serious come-to-jesus moments by the folks in DC.

So if that is not going to happen, then we need to finish this in one swoop. Precision strikes on the leadership and any major insurgent camps. Identify some internal leaders willing to flip and protect them and support them in a run for new leadership.

Obama droned the shit out of the middle east in way we haven't ever seen before. But you know what else happened while he was in office? Drone tech got way, way better. I do not blame him for using this technique, as it was following the trend of technology and in terms of overall lives lost, there were much fewer for the Americans and general civilians in iran.

Like it or not, the ME was in better shape when we buzzed in a drone on a selected target. If we must use force, this is the most prudent route in my opinion.

But I can also hold out hope that we pack our shit and leave these people alone to heal. This is what happens when generations are scarred, and they grow up not with stories of monsters under their beds, but of foreign soldiers threatening to glass their country. This cycle needs to end.

 

[Gustav Schuchardt]

Trump could just blitz the camps that the Basij who shot protestors came from with Tomahawks.

 

[Ghostse]

That was sort of the point though, Sykes-Picot purposefully re-zoned the middle east so that it was a constant shit show and none of the factions could gain "power" it just backfired in that the entire area has been a shit show ruled by insane despots the entire time and they missed out on the entirety of the past 100 years of advancement.

Iraq was just the british division of the oil assets. Unlike Africa, they did SOME research before dropping borders. The country was SUPPOSED to be a plurality like what is now Syria & Lebenon had been, but unlike those places where there is a ~10% "None of the above" - and has been for centuries, since the Muslims could only fuck with the coastal christians so hard if they didn't want another Crusade on their hands - Iraq's religious and ethnic extreme minorities make such a small and geographically dispersed population they don't constitute a courtable voting bloc.
Also being deep into the Arab lands means they didn't fear European reprisals for their mistreatment as much.

They like to claim it's some 1,400 year old beef, but it was really because Shah Ismail I wanted to fight Ottomans.

More or less. The Persians needed to separate themselves from the Turks, and if using an Arab-centric sect was what they needed to do, that's what were going to do. Especially since given the geographic proximity you can easy just say "Yo, Mohammed was actually persian, camel-fucking arabs get wrecked"

The Persians also had no interest in expanding into India*, so the fact the Arab-centric Shia branch gave them an in with the logical westward expansion.

*It is more correct to say there were serious geographic hurdles that would make taking and holding any india-ward expansion extremely difficult.

Sykes Picot was a division of the Ottoman empire based on general interests, and the lines aren't arbitrary. the lines are based solely off of geographic considerations, because the Europeans couldn't give two shits about the locals. It's the same thing with the Pakistan Afghanistan border and the borders in Africa

Slight disagree on Pakistan; Pakistan & the indian states were determined by the Raj system, which itself was set up based on input from historical minor Kingdoms and spheres of influence. Pakistan, due to water issues, had a bit more geographically baked into figuring where the border was, but the unrealized expectation (Kashmir asside) was that whoever was the minority on either side of the border would sort their shit and basically move to the "right" country.

Kashmir was its own little bundle of fuckery, where the various states were allowed to choose how they'd select their post-independence allegiance. Metropolitan areas could vote, but the more backwards areas where everything was run top-down, the local monarchy would decide.
Kashmir was an extreme muslim majority area with a Hindi royal family. So theKing chose to stay with India.This was a resource grab by the Indians and permitted by the British for a variety of reasons, chiefly that they expected the Indians to hold up their end of a treaty assuring both countries to water rights from the rivers that originate in the region than the Pakis.


Africa you are two million percent right on.