IRAN ATTACK ALERT SENT VIA US STATE DEPT TEXT SYSTEM - ATTACK IN PROGRESS!!!!

https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/iran-attack-alert-sent-via-us-state-dept-text-system

IRAN ATTACK ALERT SENT VIA US STATE DEPT TEXT SYSTEM - ATTACK IN PROGRESS!!!!

WORLD HAL TURNER 07 JANUARY 2020  HITS: 3524

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UPDATE 6:25 PM EST -- The sound of several explosions was heard in Erbil. The definitive news of the precise rocket launch has been released by al-Assad. The missiles were probably fired at various bases. This is just the beginning ...
A Text message claiming Iran has launched an attack has been transmitted thru the US State Department Cellphone Text system!
Wednesday, 8 January 2020
URGENT MESSAGE FOR MISSION UAE We have received information that Iran has launched an attack, likely on Iraq or Kuwait. We are still gathering information. In the meantime, all personnel should shelter indoors until we update you further.
 
Endeavoring to verify . . . check back
 UPDATE 5:03 PM EST --
At least 4 rockets have reportedly struck Camp Taji in Iraq, which hosts American troops.  NOT THE TYPE OR SCALE OF ATTACK ONE WOULD EXPECT FROM IRAN; PROBABLY A LOCAL MILITIA WITH ITCHY TRIGGER FINGERS.
 
UPDATE 5:15 EST --
Official word from Iran: Solemaini and his other dead pals, have been buried.  Looks like "It's on like Donkey Kong!"

Quote :

Zahra Shafei [img(20.599999999999998px,20px)]https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f1ee-1f1f7.png[/img]@shafei_d





[ltr]After 8 funeral processions in different cities, the martyrs are laid to rest now. Abu Mahdi in Iraq, Hajj Qassem and his 4 comrades in Iran. We honored our traditions and waited as a mourning family waits for their deceased loved ones' burial. We're done waiting. #انتقام_سخت[/ltr]


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UPDATE 5:45 PM EST --
Rocket attack on Ain Al Assad airbase in Anbar Iraq, hosing US/coalition forces.
At least 5 rockets landed
 
FWIW -- Nancy Pelosi has left the Gang of Eight briefing on Iran, and has declined to answer questions from media.
 
Sources on the ground mention that the attack on Ain Assad Air Base in Anbar province came from multiple launch pads, a coordinated attack.
 
 UPDATE 5:56 PM EST --
American consulate in Erbil, Iraq has reportedly been bombed by unknown forces.
Attack on Al-Assad Airbase in Iraq ongoing, reports rockets/Mortars are still coming in and at least 30 have landed so far.
 
Some sources report that Iranian ballistic missiles were fired at the US base in Iraq. NOT CONFIRMED
 
UPDATE 6:07 PM EST --
Military planes heard over Erbil now after explosions were heard the city.
 
UPDATE 6:17 PM EST --
Now receiving info and video, claiming Iran launching BALLISTIC MISSILES at US Bases in region.   Video below is ALLEGEDLY of such launches taking place inside Iran.



 Ain Al Asad US airbase which hosts most of the US troops in Anbar region of Iraq has been hit with more than 50 rockets.

Some outlets are reporting casualties among US soldiers.
 Kata’ib Hezbollah and Pro-IRGC telegram channels are quoting “Revenge has begun”
 
UPDATE 6:29 PM EST --
Iran's official Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is now publicly confirming its revenge has begun.  United States military forces in Iraq (and elsewhere) are no wunder active missile attack from the military of Iran, with launches being done from Iran sovereign territory.   WAR.
 
Additional updates pending, check back
 
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https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/were-going-war-bro-elite-82nd-airborne-largest-fast-deployment-decade




"We're Going To War, Bro": Elite 82nd Airborne In Largest 'Fast Deployment' In A Decade




[size=10]by Tyler Durden
Tue, 01/07/2020 - 16:20




“We’re going to war, bro” — declared a young US soldier from the US Army's celebrated 82nd Airborne Division. He gave reporters a confident two thumbs up as his unit moved out on its largest “fast deployment” in a decade at a moment Iran has promised to inflict a "historic nightmare" on the US in retaliation for the killing of Qasem Soleimani. 
Reuters provided a detailed account of the uneasy yet somewhat jovial calm before the storm atmosphere that prevailed on the airport tarmac at Fort Bragg, North Carolina as 600 soldiers and many hundreds more support crew flew out.
While Kuwait is expected to be the first stop for most of the some 3,500 total paratroopers ordered to the region, the final destination is classified, and the Army is concerned over information leaks. For this reason the US Army confiscated the cell phones and any personal communication devices of those deploying on the transport planes. 
82nd Airborne rolled out Sunday, Jan.5. Image source: Spc. Hubert Delany III/U.S. Army via AP


The departing soldiers, with the older generation described by Reuters as more somber and aware of the reality of entering conflict, were keenly aware that war is potentially on the horizon:
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Quote :

The older soldiers, in their 30s and 40s, were visibly more somber, having the experience of seeing comrades come home from past deployments learning to walk on one leg or in flag-draped coffins.
“This is the mission, man,” said Brian Knight, retired Army veteran who has been on five combat deployments to the Middle East...
“They’re answering America’s 911 call,” Knight said. “They’re stoked to go. The president called for the 82nd.”

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“The guys are excited to go but none of us know how long they’ll be gone,” Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mike Burns said. “That’s the toughest part,” he added.
Reuters described that for each infantry combat fighter, there are seven support crew deploying, including cooks, medics, mechanics, transport personnel, and chaplains — with the only ones not carrying a rifle among them being the chaplains.
US Army via AP
Despite war rhetoric between the US and Iran dominating the news cycle over the prior days, many were surprised to receive the call over the weekend to muster and depart Sunday. The Reuters report related the following: 
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“I was just watching the news, seeing how things were going over there,” said the 27-year-old, one of several soldiers Reuters was allowed to interview on condition they not be named. “Then I got a text message from my sergeant saying ‘don’t go anywhere.’ And that was it.”
Risks seemed to be pushed to the back of the minds of the younger soldiers, though many packed the base chapel after a breakfast of eggs, waffles, oatmeal, sausages and 1,000 doughnuts.

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“We just got there and I got the call to turn right around and head back to base,” he said. “My wife knows the drill. I had to go. We drove right back.”
Army spokesman Lt. Col. Burns commented, “We’re an infantry brigade. Our primary mission is ground fighting. This is as real as it gets.”
And just like that, Reuters noted, the reality began to set in: "On a single order, hundreds of soldiers jumped to their feet. They lined up single file and marched out carrying their guns and kits and helmets, past a volunteer honor guard holding aloft flags that flapped east in the January wind."

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https://www.blacklistednews.com/article/75920/amphibious-assault-ship-bataan-with-2000-marines-on-board-is-headed-toward.html


AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIP BATAAN WITH 2,000 MARINES ON BOARD IS HEADED TOWARD IRAQ
Published: January 6, 2020
Share | Print This

SOURCE: ZERO HEDGE

The Iraqi parliament voted on Sunday to expel US troops out of the country but so far, it appears that nobody in the US got the memo. In fact quite the contrary.
According to the US Naval Institute, amid rising tensions with Iran, the US Navy is scrapping an exercise with Morocco as it redirects the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5) and embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit with roughly 2,000 marines on board to the Middle East, a defense official confirmed to USNI News.

Quote :

#UPDATE: 2,000 US Marines en route to the Middle East onboard USS Bataan Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, USS New York San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock & USS Oak Hill Harper’s Ferry-class dock landing ship

4,000 US troops from 82nd Airborne also being/been deployed https://t.co/gxYG8qcDNi
— ELINT News (@ELINTNews) January 6, 2020

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Members of the 26th MEU and Bataan crew were slated to train with members of the Moroccan military as part of the joint Exercise African Sea Lion. Indeed, the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group had just arrived off the coast of Morocco this week before its new tasking, according to the USNI Fleet tracker. The ARG deployed quietly from the East Coast in December. Now, Bataan and the 26th MEU are moving closer to the Middle East, as shown in the most recent map of naval deployments.
[url=https://www.blacklistednews.com/s3/files/inline-images/US navy locations jan 2_1.jpg?itok=8TXcanxl][/url]
The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit—a force of more than 2,000 Marines, including infantryman, artillery and aircraft—is expected to pass through the Suez Canal within days, U.S. officials said. On board the USS Bataan, an amphibious assault ship, the force could be put ashore for combat operations and also specializes in protecting and evacuating embassies.
“USS Bataan and embarked Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are underway conducting routine operations, demonstrating the inherent flexibility of our naval forces,” Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Comer, a U.S. 6th Fleet spokesman told USNI News. “For operational security reasons, we do not discuss future operations. ARGMEUs operate continuously across the globe to provide commanders with a forward-deployed, flexible and responsive sea-based Marine Air-Ground Task Force.”
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Quote :

#UPDATE #EPHRAIM #MANESSAH #JOSEPH #MALKI #TZEDEK #YAHUSHA#HolySpirit #ISAAC

COVFEFE 2,000 "SONS OF ADAM" US Marines en route to Mid-East on-board USS Bataan, USS New York & USS Oak Hill.
4,000 US troops from 82nd Airborne also deployed.

(File Photos) https://t.co/VbAMrMq9p8 pic.twitter.com/6S0VINPYVd
— SHILOH/GEN 49:10 (@Ps3Shiloh) January 6, 2020

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The Marines will join soldiers from the Fort Bragg, N.C.-based 82nd Airborne who have been sent to Iraq as a security measure following the U.S. operation that killed a top Iranian military leader on Thursday. In total when the 5,000 sailors and marines from the Bataan arrive in Iraq, the US will have added roughly 10,000 troops in Iraq in the last week.
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When the USS Bataan, carrying 5K sailors and Marines, arrives, the U.S. will have added roughly 10K troops to Iraq in the last week. https://t.co/lBVrKjqTSb via @WSJ
— Nancy Youssef, نانسي يوسف (@nancyayoussef) January 6, 2020

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On Friday, several news organizations reported the Pentagon was sending up to 3,500 more 82nd soliders to the region, in case Iran or Iranian-backed forces attempted retaliation attacks following Soleimani’s death. ABC News first reported to 3,500 additional troops.
The deployments come just the Iraqi parliament voted to expel US forces operating in the country. In response, on Sunday the U.S. Central Command said it had suspended, at least temporarily, efforts to train Iraqi forces and help them fight Islamic State extremists.
If expelled from all of Iraq, the U.S. would still be able to do airstrikes from bases outside the country and carry out covert raids. But that would be much less effective than operating on the ground in concert with Iraqi security forces against Islamic State militants, who still number in the thousands and are striving to rebuild their capabilities following the loss of their self-declared caliphate.
“If the final Iraqi decision means all U.S. troops have to come out, it would effectively end the U.S. capability to deal on a moment-to-moment basis with fleeting targets,” said retired Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, who helped organize the international coalition of more than 70 countries, a handful of which have played an active role in Iraq and Syria in helping local partners fighting Islamic State, also known as ISIS.
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Time now 7:06pm est  Newest first

7m
Numbers are preliminary. May change. War zones are chaotic.

9m
20 US toop lives lost so far.
Be ready for the BOOM.

44m
multiple ballistic missiles fired by IRGC forces have struck the Al-Assad base.
Please pray for the lives of our soldiers there. Fighting is ongoing.
--------------------------------
I'll put E's tweets on the "Enigma" thread

He knew ahead of time.  Has been posting [8].  It's the 8th over there.

Dove, the best that i can glean right now is that there is a lot of misinfo getting out ....exactly what is true or false, IDK....I am on TD and watching them filter out the real from the fiction as best as they can...Don't take everything from the media as fact, at least not at this moment

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/missile-strike-reportedly-carried-out-against-us-base-iraq

Futures Tumble After Iran Fires "Tens Of Missiles" At US Airbase In Iraq




[size=10][size=10]by Tyler Durden
Tue, 01/07/2020 - 18:12[/size]


Update 7: US jets are reportedly "in the air" and leaving Turkey as stocks extend their decline, and oil futures continue to climb. Reports are claiming that shelling has stopped at Al Asad Air Base, and that roughly 35 rounds hit the base.

White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham: "We are aware of the reports of attacks on US facilities in Iraq. The President has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national security team,” White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a statement."
Some media reports noted that the base has been visited by President Trump in the past, giving the attack a special significance. US military sources are saying that troops at the base are still in lockdown, though the attack is said to be over.


Iranian TV is already threatening "more violent responses" if the US retaliates for these latest attacks.
* * *
Update 6: The drop in S&P futures is accelerating as more senior US military officials confirm that a US army base in Iraq is under ballistic missile attack. The drop in S&P futures is accelerating as US and Iranian sources report attacks "all over the country."

Brent futures have extended their gains to 3% on the news, which seems to suggest that the crisis between the US and Iran over the killing of Suleimani is far from over.

While details on casualties are still unclear, experts are saying that the weapons used were either cruise missiles, or short-range ballistic weaponry, or possibly a mix.

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Quote :

Jennifer Griffin

:heavy_check_mark:@JenGriffinFNC





[ltr]From senior US military source in Iraq:
“Under missile attack from Iran. These are either cruise missiles or short range ballistic missiles. All over the country.”[/ltr]


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And we now have a statement from the IRGC claiming responsibility for the attacks: "The brave soldiers of IRGC's aerospace unit have launched a successful attack with tens of ballistic missiles on Al Assad military base in the name of martyr Gen. Qasem Soleimani."
Looking ahead, many are wondering if the fighting will reach Baghdad.

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Quote :

Feras Kilani فراس كيلاني

:heavy_check_mark:@FerasKilaniBBC





[ltr]Meanwhile, it is quite calm here in #Baghdad, but not expected to stay for long.. It is the WAR[/ltr]


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And the White House has confirmed that President Trump has been briefed on the attacks, and is monitoring the situation closely with his national security team at the White House.
Given the severity of the situation, it's still strange that the US was slow to confirm the initial reports. A reporter for CNN is reporting that the Pentagon was slow to respond because officials were "sent home early for what was supposed to be a major snowstorm" in DC.
Nancy Pelosi was reportedly briefed about the attacks during a steering meeting. Her response to her fellow members? Pray....

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Quote :

Lauren Fox

:heavy_check_mark:@FoxReports





[ltr]Multiple members tell reporters that Pelosi received a note during the steering meeting informing her of the attack in Iraq. Her message to her members in the room? Pray.[/ltr]


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Iranian sources are claiming that the operation has a name: 'Operation Martyr Suileimani'.

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Quote :

Steve Herman

:heavy_check_mark:@W7VOA




Replying to @W7VOA @PressSec

[ltr]#IRGC has launched 'Operation Martyr Soleimani' by firing missiles at the base in #Iraq, according to Tasnimnews_Fa.[/ltr]


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* * *
Update 5: Bloomberg has now confirmed WaPo's reporting, adding that at least nine rockets have now hit Al-Asad Airbase. There have also been reports of IRGC commanders claiming to have launched "tens of missiles" at the base.

Al Mayadeen TV has also confirmed.
And just like that, ES is sliding, and Brent is spiking...
* * *
Update 4: Confirmation at last.
After hours of vague and unconvincing reports about a string of attacks on US buildings in Iraq, the Washington Post has apparently confirmed that at least one of the attacks - the most recent to be reported - is real.
Reporter Dan Lamothe described his source as "very credible."

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Quote :

Dan Lamothe

:heavy_check_mark:@DanLamothe





[ltr]U.S. defense official confirms that Al Asad air base in Iraq's Anbar province has been hit by at least six rockets tonight. Additional details unclear. But very credible source.[/ltr]


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Video of alleged Iranian rockets raining down on the American base has just hit Twitter.

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Quote :

Israel Breaking@IsraelBreaking





[ltr]BREAKING VIDEO: Suspected Iranian originating rockets seen being launched toward military base housing US forces in Iraq moments ago.[/ltr]







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So it looks like this really is the Iranian retaliation that we've been waiting for.
* * *
Update 3: And the stream of strange reports of attacks and sirens at US bases and consulates around the Middle East continues, as a reporter for Al-Monitor, a credible English-language source of news and analysis on the Middle East region, claims another missile attack has been reported, this time at Al-Asad airbase in Anbar Province.
Reports claim that more than 30 missiles have been launched at the base, and still more are coming in.

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Quote :

Jack Detsch@JackDetsch_ALM





[ltr]NEW: Defense official tells me that Al-Asad airbase that houses US & coalition troops in Iraq has been hit with 6 rockets. Not clear if there are any casualties.[/ltr]


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Following reports of a siren heard at the US consulate in Erbil, Iraqi TV is reporting that flights into the local airport have been suspended.
Once again, Iranian media is reporting the attacks, though we must admit, the photo below doesn't exactly look genuine.

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Quote :

خبرگزاری فارس

:heavy_check_mark:@FarsNews_Agency





[rtl][img(16.05px,16px)]https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f6a8.png[/img] #فوری| انتقام سخت به وقوع پیوست/ برخی منابع خبر از شلیک موشک‌های بالستیک ایرانی به سمت پایگاه عین‌الاسد در عراق که محل استقرار نیروهای آمریکایی است، می‌دهند.[/rtl]





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The mainstream American press and Pentagon are still eerily quiet.
* * *
Update 2: The UK tabloid Daily Mail is now reporting at "siren test" at Taji military base in Iraq, which it says is host to British and American troops. The report appears to have verified claims that at least five rockets have hit the base, and that sirens have been heard ringing out at consulates around the area, including Erbil, which we noted below.
Critically, the paper notes that some reports suggest that the missile strike might simply be a drill. It also noted that the alleged strike is unfolding just hours after a flurry of US airstrikes on militia bases in Western Iraq and Syria, targeting the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Units.
One local journalist reports that his sources say the "attack" was merely just a drill, and that the base is "calm tonight."

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Quote :

Barzan Sadiq

:heavy_check_mark:@BarzanSadiq





[ltr]According to my sources, #Taji camp is calm tonight and no attacks occurred. I will keep you updated.[/ltr]


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* * *
More unconfirmed reports are trickling in, this time from Australia-based cleric Imam Tawhidi.

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Quote :

Imam of Peace / Pray for Peace...

:heavy_check_mark:@Imamofpeace





[ltr]#BREAKING: US air defence put on high alert, anticipating a bigger attack by Iran or their militias in Iraq. 5 rockets fired on Camp #Taji, Iraq, minutes ago.[/ltr]





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1:52 PM - Jan 7, 2020
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Quote :

Imam of Peace / Pray for Peace...

:heavy_check_mark:@Imamofpeace





[ltr]#NEW: Pictures of US forces leaving Camp Taji to exit Iraq’s territories.

(These pictures were taken a few hours ago and the surroundings cannot identify their location/direction anyway. Safe to post).[/ltr]





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Quote :

Imam of Peace / Pray for Peace...

:heavy_check_mark:@Imamofpeace





[ltr]The Military COALITION base in #Taji is not empty. Anywhere the rockets land will cause significant harm. We hope that all US forces have left already. (If the US forces are no longer there, the militias will stop firing rockets at soldiers from other countries).[/ltr]





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And a video purporting to depict a warning at the base advising personnel to "shelter in place" - though there's no way of telling whether it is authentic.

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Quote :

صدى العراق | Sada Al-Iraq@SADA_IRAQ





[ltr]A video from the Taji base, north of Baghdad, where American forces are present, warning of missile strikes.
#Iraq_Rocking pic.twitter.com/NyE3zsbuUj@ELINTNews[/ltr]







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See صدى العراق | Sada Al-Iraq's other Tweets




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* * *
Update: The Jerusalem Post has apparently picked up reports from Iran's Fars news agency claiming that at least five rockets have hit Taji, potentially placing the lives of American troops in peril.
That means the reports of the attack, which were first circulated by unconfirmed accounts, have now been vetted by the mainstream press. Though some on social media claim that people on the ground in the area don't see any signs of the attack, and are skeptical that this might be another Iranian attempt at disruptive media hacking.

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Quote :

The Jerusalem Post

:heavy_check_mark:@Jerusalem_Post





[ltr]#BREAKING At least 4 rockets hit #Iraq's Taji base that hosts #American troops, according to reports. https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Multiple-rockets-hit-Taji-base-in-Iraq-hosting-American-troops-613476 …[/ltr]

IRGC: Missile attack on US base in Iraq is revenge for Soleimani strike

Initial reports stated that 9 rockets hit the Ain al-Assad airbase on Tuesday. The base hosts American soldiers.
jpost.com



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Quote :

WW3 Updates@ww3updates





[ltr]CONFIRMED: Taji base housing US troops hit with 5 rockets. No word on damage done and the type of missiles used.[/ltr]





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And, as we noted below, markets are taking the news seriously.
Get ready for more hysteria about the dawn of WWIII.
Meanwhile, in reference to a separate incident, local media reports that alarms that sounded at the US consulate in Erbil were a test.

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Quote :

FXHedge@Fxhedgers





[ltr]Iraq: Al-Mayadeen Corespondent: Sirens that sounded at the U.S Consulate in Erbil were a test.[/ltr]


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See FXHedge's other Tweets




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Quote :

FXHedge@Fxhedgers




Replying to @Fxhedgers

[ltr]Erbil is nowhere near Camp Taji[/ltr]


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If these reports are true, it's also notable that President Trump appeared to back away from threats to attack Iranian cultural sites during an "exchange" with reporters int he Oval Office ahead of his meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis Tuesday afternoon, per the Washington Post.
Though, in typical Trump style, Trump also defended the strike against Suleimani and suggested he wasn't happy about restraining his rhetoric toward Iran.
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Quote :

“They’re allowed to blow up everything that we have and there’s nothing that stops them,” he said. “And we are, according to various laws, supposed to be very careful with their cultural heritage. And you know what, if that’s what the law is, I like to obey the law.”

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Asked about the future of US troops in Iraq, Trump said the US would like to get out "at some point."
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Quote :

“At some point, we want to get out, but this isn’t the right point,” he said, adding that the United States would want to be reimbursed for costs related to fighting the Islamic State militant group.

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* * *
Following four days of increasingly belligerent threats from Iran and its leadership, unconfirmed reports claim 5 missiles have just struck a US base in Iraq.

The base is called Taji camp, and it's situated about 17 miles north of Baghdad. Notably, US troops are housed at the camp.


If this is an Iranian attack, it's notable that it's coming at the end of the four days of mourning for General Qasem Suleimani, who was killed last week in an audacious drone strike ordered by President Trump while Suleimani was attending a meeting in Baghdad.

Ominously, the heavily-followed (though not official) twitter account @Iran, tweeted a threatening message a few hours ago...

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Quote :

Iran@Iran





[ltr]Waiting for tonight,
We've dreamed of this for so long
Waiting for tonight...#SvereRevenge #Iran[/ltr]


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Though the reports are unconfirmed, news of what could be the beginning of Iran's threatened retaliation for the killing of General Qasem Suilemani inspired a slight pop in crude futures.

Gold jumped...

...while stocks are unhappy.
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Dove, the best that i can glean right now is that there is a lot of misinfo getting out ....exactly what is true or false, IDK....I am on TD and watching them filter out the real from the fiction as best as they can...Don't take everything from the media as fact, at least not at this moment
-------------------------------------
This is where I get all my info:
https://twitter.com/EzAsCoWa/

He has access to mil intel as it happens.

The thread is "Not an imposter~An Enigma.
---------------------------
He's proved himself.  It's good intel.
The only 'bad' part is for me.  It's miserable importing tweets.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/indian-ocean-naval-base-diego-garcia-launchpad-attack-iran




Indian Ocean Naval Base Diego Garcia: The Launchpad To Attack Iran




by Tyler Durden
Tue, 01/07/2020 - 20:10


[size=13]Submitted by Great Game India, a journal on Geopolitics and International Relations.
The Indian Ocean island Naval Base of Diego Garcia is the key launchpad for United States in case of an attack on Iran in the wake of the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike. The Pentagon has send six B-52 strategic bombers to military base on Diego Garcia that is beyond the range of Iran’s ballistic missiles to prepare to hit Tehran if given the order.

B-52 Bombers deployed at Diego Garcia


The US Defense Department is sending six B-52 bombers to the Diego Garcia military base in the northern Indian Ocean as preparations for possible military action against Iran move forward.
The Pentagon is deploying six B-52 Stratofortress bombers (like the ones seen in the above stock image) to a military base in the northern Indian Ocean, according to a CNN report from Monday
Pentagon officials told CNN on Monday that the B-52 will be available for operations against the Islamic Republic if ordered into action, though the deployment does not signal a decision has been made about any attack plans, as reported by Dailymail.
The United States maintains several military bases in a number of Middle Eastern countries in close proximity to Iran, but it chose to deploy its bombers to Diego Garcia because it is out of reach of Iran’s longest range missiles, according to the Pentagon.

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[ltr]JAN 06: USAF B-52Hs MYTEE51 & 52 departed Barksdale AFB for Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean due to #Iran tensions.[/ltr]





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This is the second time in the last year that the American military has deployed B-52 bomber aircraft to the region due to rising tensions with Iran.
In May, the White House ordered six B-52s to deploy to an American military base in Qatar as well as other bases in ‘southwest Asia’ after it received reports of alleged threats from Iran.
Diego Garcia – British occupied American Naval Base in Indian Ocean
The Chagos Islands were colonized by France in the 18th century and African slaves were shipped in to cultivate coconuts. In 1814, France ceded the islands to Britain, which in 1903 merged them with Mauritius, its colony about 1,200 miles to the south-west.
Diego Garcia is a British Occupied Indian Ocean Territory and the largest of the islands in the Chagos Archipelago about 1,000 miles south off the coast of India
In 1965, Britain separated the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, paying £3million for them. When Mauritius became independent in 1968, the islands remained under British control, and were renamed the British Indian Ocean Territory. In 1966, Britain leased the islands to the United States for 50 years.
Between 1968 and 1973, about 2,000 Chagos islanders were evicted. Most were shipped to Mauritius and the Seychelles. Evicted islanders enlisted the help of human rights lawyer Amal Clooney when they took their fight to the Supreme Court in 2015, but the court ruled against them.
The secretive military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island, has been dubbed ‘the Guantanamo of the East’ amid suspicions it was a key staging post in the US rendition and torture program.
In 2016, the US lease was extended to 2036.
Strategic location
The American presence there can be attributed to the fact that Diego Garcia’s location is strategically vital. Diego Garcia has been a launching point for US military actions in the Middle East – including the 2001 campaign against Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The horseshoe-shaped atoll of Diego Garcia (right) measures about 17 square miles. It is surrounded by about 60 other atolls. The coastline of Diego Garcia form a natural harbor, making it ideal to station a naval base there
It is also a refueling station for US Air Force jets that patrol the South China Sea. Diego Garcia was also designated an emergency landing spot for space missions by NASA.
The future of the American presence on the atoll was thrown into doubt earlier this year when a United Nations court ruled that the British illegally seized control of the island. The court, in a nonbinding ruling, said that control over the territory should be returned to Mauritius.
Diego Garcia is home to between an estimated 3,000-5,000 American military personnel. There is also believed to be a small number of British soldiers stationed at the site as well as civilian contractors mostly from Mauritius. These contractors are believed to cook and clean for the soldiers and sailors.
This satellite image taken in 2006 shows B-52s and KC-135s on the ramp at Diego Garcia
The horseshoe-shaped atoll measures about 17 square miles. It is surrounded by about 60 other atolls. The coastline of Diego Garcia form a natural harbor, making it ideal to station a naval base there. Diego Garcia is also a tropical paradise that is home to a significant population of turtles, giant migrating birds, and coconut crab.
The US military has long been tight-lipped about Diego Garcia. Unlike the base in Guam, spouses of military personnel are not allowed on the atoll. It was also reported that Diego Garcia was used as one of the CIA’s ‘black sites’ – the secret rendition program in which the Americans interrogated and tortured suspected extremists.
[url=https://www.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/US-Military-base-at-Indian-Ocean-island-Diego-Garcia %281%29.jpg?itok=lKT6FVMZ]The strategic bombers were on their way Monday to Diego Garcia, an atoll that is home to a vital US military base[/url]
But its most important function for the American military is the airstrip. The runways at Diego Garcia allow US warplanes to freely operate in the skies above Africa to the southwest; the Middle East and Central Asia to the north and west; and the Far East and Asia to its east, as reported by Business Insider.
USAF RC-135S 62-4128 CHAOS45 departed Diego Garcia at 2330Z for a mission in the Bay of Bengal to monitor India’s ASAT anti-satellite missile test
The Americans used this Naval base at Diego Garcia to spy on India’s Mission Shakti. USAF RC-135S 62-4128 CHAOS45 departed Diego Garcia at 2330Z for a mission in the Bay of Bengal to monitor India’s ASAT anti-satellite missile test. USAF KC-135Rs FRESH53 and 54 provided tanker support and returned to Diego Garcia.
In response to India’s Mission Shakti the US launched what is dubbed as Operation Olympic Defender. At the Space Symposium the head of United States Strategic Command Gen. John Hyten called for Space Rules in response to India’s ASAT test sharing for the first time American Space War plans, known as Operation Olympic Defender, with a small number of allies. It is believed these allies referred to by Hyten are members of the Five Eyes.
American Military Bases on Target
The American military footprint in the Middle East and central Asia includes approximately 14,000 troops in Afghanistan; 13,000 soldiers in Kuwait; 13,000 more in Qatar; 7,000 in Bahrain; 6,000 in Iraq; 5,000 in the United Arab Emirates; 3,000 in Saudi Arabia; 3,000 in Jordan; and 2,500 in Turkey. There are much smaller troop levels in Syria and Oman, according to The Washington Post.
Unlike US military bases in the Middle East, Diego Garcia is out of range of Iran’s most advanced missiles. The map above shows Iranian missile capabilities
In total, Iran could conceivably strike at areas that would place more than 55,000 American soldiers at risk. Its ballistic missile arsenal includes weapons that are very difficult to target because they are either road-mobile or hidden inside highly fortified mountain fortresses, according to The War Zone.
In the event of war between Iran and either the United States or its Sunni Arab allies, the Iranians would only need a few minutes to launch ballistic missiles from subterranean strongholds. Iran could hit American bases, airfields, and other key sites.
Any conflict with Iran would most likely include a US deployment of its B-2 stealth bomber, though there are no reports indicating that the Pentagon has forward deployed these planes to the region. A B-2 bomber is seen above dropping a GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator
That is why the Pentagon would most likely rely on its fleet of strategic bombers based in Diego Garcia. If war did break out with Iran, the US has at its disposal machines of war like the B-52 and the B-2 Spirit bombers that can unleash devastating blows.
The Americans would most likely deploy the B-2s to drop precision-guided 40,000-pound ‘bunker buster’ GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs), which are specially designed to pierce through Iran’s mountain complexes.
The B-52 Stratofortress: America’s long-range strategic bomber
The United States Air Force currently has 76 B-52 Stratofortress bombers in service today. Designed and built by the Seattle-based Boeing Company, the B-52 is a long-range strategic bomber that has been used by the Air Force since the 1950s.
A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress heavy bomber drops bombs in this undated file photo
It is capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds of weapons while flying at a combat range of more than 8,800 miles without aerial refueling. This heavy bomber is powered by 8 turbofan engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney. Each engine is capable of producing 17,000 pounds of thrust to propel the plane forward in the air.
The B-52 also boasts a wingspan of 185ft. Each aircraft has a length measuring 159ft4in. The plane stands at a height of 40ft8in. The aircraft weighs approximately 185,000 pounds. It can take off at a maximum weight of 488,000 pounds.

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To fly its long-range bombing missions, it needs fuel – a lot of it. Each B-52 has a fuel capacity of 312,197 pounds. The plane is a subsonic aircraft that can reach speeds of 650mph. It can also fly at a top altitude of 50,000ft as claimed by the Boeing Company.
US-Iran tensions
An Iranian government minister denounced Trump as a ‘terrorist in a suit’ after the US president sent a series of Twitter posts on Saturday threatening to hit 52 Iranian sites, including targets important to Iranian culture, if Tehran attacks Americans or US assets to avenge Soleimani’s death.
Tensions in the Middle East have soard since a top Iranian general, Qassem Soleimani (pictured), was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport on Friday, shocking the Islamic Republic
Talking to reporters aboard Air Force One on the way to Washington from Florida on Sunday evening, Trump stood by those comments. ‘They’re allowed to kill our people. They’re allowed to torture and maim our people. They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we’re not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn’t work that way,’ he said.
Iranian state media said ‘millions’ of people had gathered in Tehran to mourn Soleimani’s death in scenes not witnessed since the death of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989
Democratic critics of the Republican president have said Trump was reckless in authorizing the strike, and some said his comments about targeting cultural sites amounted to threats to commit war crimes. Many asked why Soleimani, long seen as a threat by US authorities, had to be killed now. Republicans in Congress have generally backed Trump’s move.
The Iraqi Resolution
The Iraqi parliament passed a resolution calling for an end to all foreign troop presence, reflecting the fears of many in Iraq that Friday’s strike could engulf them in another war between two bigger powers long at odds in Iraq and across the region.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (center) leading a prayer as President Hassan Rouhani (fifth right) perform the prayer over the caskets of slain Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at Tehran University on Monday
While such resolutions are not binding on the government, this one is likely to be heeded: Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi had earlier called on parliament to end foreign troop presence as soon as possible.
Trump also threatened sanctions against Iraq and said that if US troops were required to leave the country, Iraq’s government would have to pay Washington for the cost of a ‘very extraordinarily expensive’ air base there.
He said if Iraq asked US forces to leave on an unfriendly basis, ‘we will charge them sanctions like they’ve never seen before ever. It’ll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame.’ Iran and the United States have been competing for clout in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003 that toppled Saddam Hussein.
Russian Spying over Mar-a-Lago
About 24 hours after arriving from Moscow, a private jet regularly used by the head of Russia’s largest state-run bank remained at an airport just a short drive from where Donald Trump was vacationing, giving rise to concerns whether the Russians were spying on top secret discussions taking place at Mar-a-Lago where the decision to assassinate Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was taken by US President Donald Trump.[/size]
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