WAR Iran/ US/mideast war thread - 2/28/26 Open Hostilities (Thread for Off Topic discussion started, see post #13,751, page 344)

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Babak Taghvaee - The Crisis Watch
@BabakTaghvaee1
23m

BREAKING: The United Arab Emirates is conducting retaliatory airstrikes against multiple civilian and military targets inside Iran. From IRGC Navy sites to petrochemical facilities in Bandar Abbas, and other locations across Hormozgan Province, including Qeshm Island, targets are reportedly being struck by UAE Air Force fighter jets, including Mirage 2000-9EADs. Armed drones of the UAE Air Force are also involved in these airstrikes. There is a high possibility that U.S. Navy fighter jets operating from USS Abraham Lincoln are also joining Emirati aircraft in these strikes.

Local reports from Hormozgan Province indicate:

04:15–04:16 (Qeshm Island): Two explosions heard, windows reportedly shaking.

04:18 (Bandar Abbas): Two explosions heard, described as similar to wartime bomb blasts, strong enough to shake windows.

04:19 (Bandar Abbas): Reports of up to three explosions.

These real-time reports suggest multiple strikes across Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island within minutes, indicating a coordinated wave of attacks.
 
Quick question. I know it was mentioned somewhere up thread but, how many of those “fast boats” does the IRGC have? If they decide to start swarming ships, we’ll need a countdown list. Maybe come with a catch phrase, like the Marianas turkey shoot. The A-10 Hogfest or something.

Generally looking at things, todays events clearly show more of a breakdown between the IRGC and what’s left of civil authority. I thought I heard a report that todays attacks were basicly blamed on the IRGC by the civil gov. IF true, civil gov is distancing itself. That would indicate they know they will soon lose and they want to hide their crimes. That would certainly make things interesting.

Attacking the U.A.E. was a typical losing bully play. When he can’t win, threaten those around himself to create a mob for help and protection. It’s backfired. Not only has the U.A.E. declared war, they’ve said they are pulling together a Coalition of Arabs states to join them. Hummmm, I wonder who might step up?

The IRGC wants to believe they can still pull off a victory by just being alive and in office when the shooting stops. Civil authority is trying to save what they can, knowing the civilians now have a lot more guns and are willing to use them. A mass exodus of governmental types as soon as we start shooting again would not surprise me.
 
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library lady said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/2051388370098573320
"the key isn't to target missile sites or oil or energy infrastructure. That won't fix anything.

-- STEP ONE

-- Shift your focus towards the regime's internal suppression apparatus - IRGC basij checkpoints, courthouses, bases, police stations and assassinations of all influential figures who oversee oppression of civilians.

Do this while leaving the Iranian national army (Artesh) mostly untouched (they are useless and irrelevant, and we'll need them on our side when this is all over)

If Mojtaba is somehow alive, make sure he isn't anymore. But more importantly, take out the judiciary and basij leaders who oversee arrests, torture, executions and massacres.

Revolution must happen from the inside. Real change has to be facilitated by the Iranian people, it can't be done by foreigners. But that can't happen without the right conditions.

Iranians want to rise up again, but it's been barely 4 months since the horrific massacre. It was beyond traumatic. A lot of damage has been done to the regime so far, but it isn't enough. The Mossad drone attacks on checkpoints should ramp up thousandfold. They were extremely effective, and caused both panic and defections. Iranians are still unarmed, and need to know they won't face impossible odds.

If the streets of major cities empty out because IRGC thugs don't dare to show up, a successful revolution will follow. The rial is almost at 2,000,000 per dollar. Misery is now the standard even for people who used to be considered wealthy. I assure you revolution is inevitable. And once that happens, you no longer have to worry about destroying missiles or nuclear sites.

--STEP TWO

-- Internet.

Reconnect Iran.

End the blackout. How can a revolution happen when people can't communicate? It's 2026 and losing the internet is like losing a vital limb. Use whatever tech possible to end the blackout. Combine this with step 1 to properly facilitate an Iranian overthrow of the regime.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.
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Oh my! My dream girl order of battle rattle battle planner.

Add to the PSYOP, a 1-800-Iranian civilian hot-line that is tasked with A-10 targeting of nearby ensconced enemy positions.
 
somewherepress said:
Eli Afriat
@EliAfriatISR
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The merchant shipping company MAERSK announces that it crossed the Strait of Hormuz under American escort without interference.

4:02 PM · May 4, 2026
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Taking this with a few pounds of salt

There is no independent AIS track from MarineTraffic, VesselFinder, or any public tracking service confirming the ship (U.S.-flagged Alliance Fairfax), actually moved through the strait today. The last public position data is from early March.

Granted trying to exit they would have gone "dark" and turned off their AIS tracking system.

However having "reported" to have successfully transited an easy demonstration of "Project Freedom" working, would be for this ship turning it's AIS back on when safe in the Gulf of Oman or Arabian Sea it would cost nothing and prove everything - some geolocated video would also be nice.

The positive PR benefit of this would be overwhelming. Both Maersk and the US military have every reason to want documented proof. Trump announced this personally, CENTCOM named it "Project Freedom" — this is a high-profile operation crying out for visible validation. A live AIS track of the Alliance Fairfax appearing in the Gulf of Oman would be instant, irrefutable proof splashed across every maritime and news outlet within minutes.

It could be a delay in AIS tracking reports but if valid we should have gotten a new position by now - will give another day or so.
Last tracking location - 2 months ago - noting since.

UPDATE -
Just finished Gen. Dan Caine press briefing a few hours ago where he stressed that "hundreds more ships are preparing to follow" and that US forces have "established a powerful red, white and blue dome over the strait."
However operational detail on the original two ships — including the second vessel's identity — was notably absent.

In reality if two ships actually broke through the world's most contested waterway for the first time in two months, under fire, with the full weight of the US military behind them, you would expect: crew interviews, ship photos underway, the captain's account, video footage from the escort helicopters or destroyers, satellite imagery, AIS tracks lighting up maritime news sites, Lloyd's and insurance market reactions citing the specific vessels, port arrival confirmations with timestamps, and cargo manifests showing what was actually carried out.

In addition the shipping press in particular - TradeWinds, Lloyd's List, Splash247, Maritime Executive - would normally be all over the specific vessels. These outlets talk to ship operators, port agents, and maritime lawyers daily. They name ships. They track them. They interview crews. They report port arrivals.

What we have gotten - NOTHING
 
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day late said:
I guess they think nobody else has radar and they can claim anything, with nobody being the wiser. EVERYBODY knows where they were launched from. Another loser play, Misdirection to avoid blame and/or responsibility. We've heard it before.

"I was just following orders."
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The decentralized IRGC command structure basically guarantees this outcome. Peace was never on the table. Their system is working as designed.
 
BassMan said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/2051669272556920848
View: https://twitter.com/zerohedge/status/2051669272556920848?s=12
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https://twitter.com/RealBababanaras/status/2051678324674716014

Baba Banaras™

@RealBababanaras



Just In : Just a while ago, Iran has launched another wave of Missiles and drones towards United Arab Emirates (UAE). Air defence systems are engaging the threat. Reportedly 8 Ballastic missiles & 20 drones were launched.


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10:00 AM · May 5, 2026
 
Open Source Intel

@Osint613
·
8m


REPORTER: Do you plan to arm Iranians? PRESIDENT TRUMP: "They want to protest so badly, but they don't have weapons." "I won't say that...but they don't have any guns." "5 or 6 sick people with guns shooting them between the eyes, and you have no guns, very few people could stand there." "All of a sudden a woman dropped dead with a bullet right there, right there. Then another woman dropped and then the word started to spread. And then there was panic and then they ran." "And you know, so I don't want that to happen. We don't need that. You know, we don't need it."
 
I have been following air tankers on Flightradar24 for weeks. identification would show up as n/a. Starting in the last few hours none are showing up in the middle east. I believe tracking has been turned off. I am sure Iran has also been using the website to track the planes. The tankers seemed to be the only military aircraft that was showing up before today.
 
truthsocial.com

Truth Social

Truth Social is America's "Big Tent" social media platform that encourages an open, free, and honest global conversation without discriminating on the basis of political ideology.
truthsocial.com truthsocial.com

Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed.

President DONALD J. TRUMP
 
https://twitter.com/x/status/2051799644829614478
View: https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/2051799644829614478


https://x.com/MarioNawfal
Mario Nawfal

@MarioNawfal
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BREAKING: Trump pauses Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz to give peace talks a chance, while keeping the blockade in place. "Great progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran." The language matters here. "Complete and Final Agreement" is the strongest framing Trump has used for the deal. "Mutually agreed" means both sides signed off. And pausing the ship escorts while maintaining the blockade is the compromise: stop provoking Iran in the Strait, but keep the economic pressure on. This reads like a deal is days away, not weeks.
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The diplomatic backchannel is actually happening, just nowhere near Pakistan... Three significant phone calls in one day reveal a real diplomatic process unfolding behind the scenes. Rubio spoke with Lavrov at Russia's request to discuss Iran along with Ukraine and x.com/MarioNawfal/st…


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6:02 PM · May 5, 2026
 
auxman said:
Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time
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Talk about a fast moving story - consider just over the last 2 days
  • Sunday: Trump announces Project Freedom with great fanfare
  • Monday: Two unnamed ships allegedly transit, none confirmed
  • Tuesday morning: Hegseth holds a Pentagon briefing calling it a historic success
  • Tuesday afternoon: Rubio tells reporters Project Freedom is "the next phase of the war"
  • Tuesday evening: Trump pauses the entire operation
 
Shanaka Anslem Perera ⚡
@shanaka86
15m

BREAKING: President Trump today announced on Truth Social that the United States will suspend Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz at the request of Pakistan and other countries to allow time for a final agreement with Iran.

The naval blockade remains in full force.

Trump cited progress toward a final agreement with Iranian representatives. Pakistan has been mediating.

Project Freedom launched on May 4. It is being suspended on May 5.

The kinetic phase lasted thirty-six hours.

auxman said:
truthsocial.com

Truth Social

Truth Social is America's "Big Tent" social media platform that encourages an open, free, and honest global conversation without discriminating on the basis of political ideology.
truthsocial.com truthsocial.com

Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed.

President DONALD J. TRUMP
Click to expand...
 
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