Iranian Strike

[Hardy Boy]

I agree that Putin is a lot smarter than Trump and is also far more experienced.  The confusing factor is that Russia has good relations with Israel.  It is significant that Israel has not joined in any sanctions against Russia and has been generally quiet in relation to Ukraine.  Putin does speak to Netanyahu.  The ideology of Putin is far from that of the USSR and he is essentially a very pragmatic Russian nationalist.  For that reason I doubt if Russia's support for Iran will go much further than words.
 

Nothing seems to Faze Putin NGB, I didn’t realise how quiet Israel had been regarding Russian v Ukraine and refused to impose sanctions on Russia and refused defensive weapons, I also noticed they took a Neutral stance over Crimea as well? 

The old USSR helped the Miners when they were on Strike as you know NGB, Thatcher didn’t like it at the time and tried to block donations from the USSR.  A Judge had blocked  the Miners Union from using its funds, and the miners in USSR raised cash to help the struggling UK miners.

It’s quite interesting, I was only reading about this over the weekend.  I know a lot of miners were really grateful of the USSR, Some was offered trips after the strike, one of my friends went and loved it.

[Hardy Boy]

   Putin was almost certainly aware, HB. He had warned that 100's of Russians were working at Bushehr Reactor plus a couple of other sites where Russia are building reactors with the Iranians. He stated that they are going nowhere and that striking them would have consequences.

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1936172696553111877

     He didn't randomly state this for no reason, obviously, and it seems a reasonable inference that he was informed. We can also reasonably infer that the Iranians also knew because of the evacuation and preparation of the site before the strikes. Roch earlier in the thread raised the notion, floated by some, that Trump is secretly working against Netanyahu. I think Alex Krainer articulated it well, can't remember where but will attempt to find it later. Whatever the truth there are a lot of unanswered questions.
     In terms of the deal you mention, HB, a kind of trade off giving Trump and Putin a free hand in Iran and Ukraine respectively. I doubt this for a number of reasons though concede that nothing can be ruled out. It is however difficult to square that particular circle. The first point is that Russia/Putin need no-one's acquiescence to deal with Ukraine. No amount of US assistance can help Ukraine but Ukraine are constantly begging for assistance because without it they collapse rapidly. Also Ukraine are not a sovereign government and Zelensky and co are simply puppets of outside interests.
     Iran on the other hand are not requesting military assistance and their government is not a proxy of Russia and is clearly sovereign and capable of defending themselves. Russia have made clear their position and are solidly on the side of Iran. Russia also have their own current large front against Empire and don't need distracting from that.
     China also are heavily reliant on Iran as their 25 year 400 billion dollar strategic partnership demonstrates. They have two intelligence gathering ships currently in the Persian Gulf. The verified facts that can be agreed upon by all seem to point more towards the Roch/Krainer view that Netanyahu is being thrown under the bus. The non event "bombing" of Fordow, warned of and prepared for beforehand, lends credence to this view. Iran could easily have shot down the subsonic B2 bombers supposedly carrying massive bunker busters which negates any alleged stealth. They were warned in advance but chose not to even try? Why?  Since the "bombing" of Fordow, Iran have increased the tempo of attacks on the occupiers again.
      Trump's declaration of having destroyed Iran nuclear capability tends towards this theory also. He has basically said that US have done their bit and are now out unless Iran strikes US. Declaring victory and walking away, as it were. I agree, HB that there are clearly some moves that are, "hidden from view", and that some back-channel negotiations and manoeuvres have taken place. It appears that from what available facts there are, that Iran were party to those shenanigans and Israel are the heel.
     

     

     

I agree Gringo, I don’t think Trump would have done it without consultation.  Putin isn’t afraid of anyone Gringo and plays the Audience however he wants.  I just think, the discussions and phone calls between the two and the shift in policy regarding US and Ukraine makes me wonder what’s going on? 

[gringo]

       https://x.com/ShaykhSulaiman/status/1937189882104803634

   Al Udeid, US base in Qatar under attack!

[Hardy Boy]

       https://x.com/ShaykhSulaiman/status/1937189882104803634

   Al Udeid, US base in Qatar under attack!

HA HA you beat me to it Gringo, just read it.

Credible threat against US base in Qatar, BBC understands
published at 17:09
17:09
BREAKING

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent
The BBC understands that there is "a credible threat" to the US-run Coalition Air Operations Centre at Al-Udeid in Qatar.
The country has temporarily closed its airspace and I’ve been told the airbase is at a state of high readiness.
The threat is believed to come from a potential Iranian missile attack.
Al-Udeid is a massive base outside the Qatari capital Doha and is home to US Centcom’s headquarters for all its air operations in the Middle East, where British military personnel also serve on rotation.

[gringo]

       https://x.com/ShaykhSulaiman/status/1937189882104803634

   Al Udeid, US base in Qatar under attack!

    Hope nothing to do with your son in law, HB

[gringo]

HA HA you beat me to it Gringo, just read it.

Credible threat against US base in Qatar, BBC understands
published at 17:09
17:09
BREAKING

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent
The BBC understands that there is "a credible threat" to the US-run Coalition Air Operations Centre at Al-Udeid in Qatar.
The country has temporarily closed its airspace and I’ve been told the airbase is at a state of high readiness.
The threat is believed to come from a potential Iranian missile attack.
Al-Udeid is a massive base outside the Qatari capital Doha and is home to US Centcom’s headquarters for all its air operations in the Middle East, where British military personnel also serve on rotation.

    Again, telegraphed in advance and an already evacuated airbase

[Hardy Boy]

    Hope nothing to do with your son in law, HB

No Gringo, thanks.

[Hardy Boy]

Qatar 'strongly condemns' attack on US air base
published at 18:21
18:21
BREAKING
We're just hearing from Qatar's government, which has offered its "strong condemnation" of the attack on the al-Udeid Air Base.
Majed al-Ansari, official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, writes on X: "We consider this a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, its airspace, international law, and the United Nations charter."
He says Qatar's air defence systems "successfully thwarted the attack and intercepted the Iranian missiles" and the base had been evacuated earlier.
He adds: "All necessary steps were taken to ensure the safety of personnel at the base, including Qatari Armed Forces members, friendly forces, and others.
"We confirm that no injuries or human casualties resulted from the attack."
The spokesperson says Qatar reserves the right to respond "in a manner equivalent with the nature and scale of this brazen aggression".

[Hardy Boy]

    Again, telegraphed in advance and an already evacuated airbase

What do you make of that Gringo,  it seems everyone warns each other now days when a missile is going to be fired?   

[gringo]

What do you make of that Gringo,  it seems everyone warns each other now days when a missile is going to be fired?

    Other US bases also under attack in Iraq. These attacks may not be playing by those same rules, HB. This looks like Iran is giving US a severe response.

[David1819]

Iranian missiles getting intercepted over the sky of Qatar


https://iran.liveuamap.com/en/2025/23-june-16-more-footage-has-reportedly-surfaced-showing-the

[gringo]

      https://x.com/nicksortor/status/1937238787832074444

PRESIDENT TRUMP RESPONDS TO IRAN LAUNCHES

“I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured. Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same.”

     

[David1819]

Trumps latest post

[Hardy Boy]

    Again, telegraphed in advance and an already evacuated airbase

Seems Trump has raised the white flag Gringo?  Wonder if Putin put pressure on him as well?

Iran state TV news channel IRINN says a ceasefire has been “imposed” on Israel following the “successful” Iranian attack on the US base in Qatar.
State TV said in a statement that Trump “begged” for a ceasefire following Iran’s attack. The statement was read aloud by the presenter.
The statement also hailed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Army and praised the “resistance” of Iranians.

[Hardy Boy]

Seems Trump has raised the white flag Gringo?  Wonder if Putin put pressure on him as well?

Iran state TV news channel IRINN says a ceasefire has been “imposed” on Israel following the “successful” Iranian attack on the US base in Qatar.
State TV said in a statement that Trump “begged” for a ceasefire following Iran’s attack. The statement was read aloud by the presenter.
The statement also hailed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Army and praised the “resistance” of Iranians.

This from Trump

Israel and Iran came to me almost simultaneously, and said, peace!' - Trump
published at 03:45
03:45
US President Donald Trump says Israel and Iran approached him "almost simultaneously, and said, peace". At this point, "I knew the time was now" he wrote in a post on Truth social.
Referring to the ceasefire he declared, he continued: "The world and the Middle East are the real winners. Both nations will see tremendous love, peace and prosperity in their futures".
Neither Iran nor Israel have accepted the ceasefire publicly, though Iran signalled it would stop striking Israel if Israel stopped striking Iran.
Writing that the two countries "Have so much to gain, and yet, so much to lose if they stray from the road of righteousness and truth," he finished the post adding that Israel and Iran's futures are "unlimited and filled with great promise. God bless you both!"