Persian Gulf & Middle East Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Let me just say the following about Global Research, who is a source for a lot of this nonsense being posted:

I am a very strong Constitutional Conservative. I will not go into that. But that let's you know that myself and the people at Democratic Underground, who are typically far Left in America usually do not agree.

But we do about Global Research our of Montreal.

Here is what American Leftists say about GLobal Research:

"I clicked around at Global Research stories for just a few moments and and I smell non-sense. I noticed immediately the constant use of generalities like (sources say..., a report was given..., a study showed..., many people...) and so on. If this were "Public Speaking 101" at any collage, the literature would fail. Go to any known source of factual information and read how true documentation is presented. For example, a comment about people dying at a hospital from a common cause would include the name of the hospital, doctors, case numbers, references, dates and times, preexisting conditions of the patients and so on. I did not see a consistent use of references or bibliographical context at all. I'll personally not read or take stock in any commentary of Global Research. No reason to read anymore Global Research."

...another:

"Despite presenting itself as a source of scholarly analysis, globalresearch.ca
mostly consists of polemics many of which accept (and use) conspiracy theories,
pseudoscience and propaganda. Apparently, contributors to globalresearch.ca consider information sourced from anyone who seems aligned to their ideology as reliable."

That confirms my own feelings when reading them. Yu might want to take that into account when reading anything posted by them...I will consult with other Moderators and we may well list in to SD's unreliable source Web Site (Like WantChinaTimes) and stop allowing t to be posted here.

Having said that as a poster, I will now say this as a Moderator:

SD will not going to let be an Anti-American site any more than we will let it become an Anti-Chinese site.

If anyone's aim in coming here is to post anti-American/Western Screed. You will not last any longer than those who have come here to try and be anti-Chinese.

Read, understand, and take note. If that shoe fits (on either foot)...you better take it off if you intend to continue posting on SD.

DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS MODERATION.

'IAF struck missile bases in Syria,' Al-Jazeera report says

According to Al-Jazeera, Israeli fighter jets bombed bases in the Al-Qalamoun mountains, where strategic bases are located housing long-range missiles; IDF: "We do not comment on foreign reports."

IAF F-16 fighter jet. (photo credit:IDF SPOKESMAN'S OFFICE)

Israel Air Force fighter jets struck Syrian military bases housing long-range missiles on Friday, the Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite television network said on Saturday.

According to the report, the bases, near the Syrian-Lebanese border, belong to Assad regime brigades that possess weapons such as Scud missiles. The attacks allegedly targeted multiple targets in the area.

The IDF Spokesman said, "We do not comment on foreign reports."

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This shows that Israel does not seek peace
Syria should give a Powerful response to Israel ,Otherwise they will continue to harass

ShahryarHedayat said:

'IAF struck missile bases in Syria,' Al-Jazeera report says

According to Al-Jazeera, Israeli fighter jets bombed bases in the Al-Qalamoun mountains, where strategic bases are located housing long-range missiles; IDF: "We do not comment on foreign reports."

IAF F-16 fighter jet. (photo credit:IDF SPOKESMAN'S OFFICE)

Israel Air Force fighter jets struck Syrian military bases housing long-range missiles on Friday, the Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite television network said on Saturday.

According to the report, the bases, near the Syrian-Lebanese border, belong to Assad regime brigades that possess weapons such as Scud missiles. The attacks allegedly targeted multiple targets in the area.

The IDF Spokesman said, "We do not comment on foreign reports."

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This shows that Israel does not seek peace
Syria should give a Powerful response to Israel ,Otherwise they will continue to harass

Click to expand...

Ambassador Bhadrakumar gives much background to the developments in North-West Syria in:

Israel Corvettes :

After modernization Saar V have now 16 Barak-8 replaced 64 Barak-1 and with new EL/M-2248 MF-STAR radar definitely a AEGIS like ship.


Before modernization


And new Saar 72, these are a stretched version of the Sa'ar 4.5 design that will incorporate stealth technology, same armament as Saar V but get a gun of 76 mm and don' t have a Phalanx.

The three first Rafale delivered to Egyptian AF would be B 352, 353, 354 production of 12/2014 - 02/2015.

Just now from Zero Hedge:

Iran Forces Seize US Cargo Ship With 34 People On Board, Al Arabiya Reports
Moments ago according to the native Twitter feed of al-Arabiya (which is owned by the Saudis), Iranian forces have seized a US cargo ship, which has some 34 American sailors, which they have taken to the port of Bandar Abbas.

Al Arabiya adds that Iran fired on the US cargo ship, a move which will surely lead to a rapid and violent escalation in the gulf:


It is unclear why Iran would do this and if this is merely yet another Saudi provocation (expect a full denial by Iran), but the US kneejerk reaction may not only scuttle, so to say, any ongoing Iran nuclear negotiations, but led to a far more violent retaliation, which may explain the move in crude if not the move lower in stocks.

After all global war is bullish for risk.

Ironically, just a few hours earlier Iran has demanded that Israel give up its “nuclear weapons”, as it spoke on behalf of the 120-nation Non-Aligned Movement. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif said the bloc also wants a nuclear free-zone in the Middle East.

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, Mohammad Javad Zarif was speaking at the United Nations for the non-aligned group of countries. Israel has never admitted or denied the widespread assumption it has nuclear weapons. However, Zarif says Israel’s assumed nuclear arsenal was a threat to regional security.

The Iranian Foreign Minister said the non-aligned movement regards Israel’s nuclear program as, “a serious and continuing threat to the security of neighboring and other states, and condemned Israel for continuing to develop and stockpile nuclear arsenals,” according to Reuters.

Israel has not signed up to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), though it has sent an observer to the month long conference for the first time in 20 years.

Zarif added that the non-aligned bloc are looking to create a nuclear free-zone in the Middle East “as a matter of high priority,” which will only be possible, if Israel abandons its nuclear stockpile.

“Israel, [is] the only one in the region that has neither joined the NPT nor declared its intention to do so, (...) renounce possession of nuclear weapons,” AFP cited Zarif as saying.

Click to expand...

The situation in the area remains quite complex.
Btw are there US merchant vessels in the Middle East that are not connected to USN?

I just heard the BBC Radio 4 news say that according to the Pentagon no US citizens are aboard the ship mentioned above.

Iran says Revolutionary Guards seized ship for legal reasons

(Reuters) - Naval units from Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) seized a cargo ship in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday for legal reasons, an IRGC source was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.

The report, which described the ship as "an American cargo vessel with a Marshall Islands flag", said there were 34 crew members on board who were mostly Europeans. The source told IRNA the incident was a civil matter with no military or political dimension.

The IRGC is Iran's elite military force and operates its own land, naval and air forces under a separate command chain from the regular armed forces.

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency earlier said the ship was seized after a court order was issued for its confiscation, referring to what it called financial differences between Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization and the vessel's owner. It did not identify the owner.

Iran fires at, boards cargo ship; U.S. sending defense

Iranian troops boarded a cargo vessel early Tuesday morning after firing shots at the ship, prompting the U.S. to send assets to the ship’s defense.

The Pentagon said at least five Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy patrol vessels approached the Marshall Islands-flagged Maersk Tigris cargo ship at 4 a.m. eastern time as it was transiting the Straight of Hormuz and directed the ship to proceed further into Iranian waters.

When the ship’s master declined, the Iranian ship fired shots across the bridge of the cargo vessel, Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren said.

After shots were fired, the ship proceeded into Iranian waters near the vicinity of Larak Island.

It was boarded by members of the Iranian coast guard and is now being held in Iranian waters with about 30 people aboard.







Looks like they're getting all the pieces in place, ready for WW3 then.
Just kidding!

PERSIAN GULF INCIDENT
Foreign Ministry source tells Press TV ship seized over financial violations
28 Apr 16:32


PERSIAN GULF INCIDENT
Press TV: USS Farragut leaves after Iranian forces tell it not to intervene
28 Apr 16:32

PERSIAN GULF INCIDENT
Reports say Marshall Islands-flagged ship sent distress call to USS Farragut
28 Apr 16:32


PERSIAN GULF INCIDENT
Press TV learns Iran seized Marshall Islands-flagged ship due to legal issues
28 Apr 16:30


PERSIAN GULF INCIDENT
Pentagon: Iran forces board ship in Persian Gulf; reports: Ship trespassed Iran waters
28 Apr 16:30


PERSIAN GULF INCIDENT
Pentagon spokesman Steve Warren: No one injured, no Americans involved
28 Apr 16:02


PERSIAN GULF INCIDENT
Press TV: USS Farragut leaves after Iranian forces tell it not to intervene
28 Apr 16:01



PERSIAN GULF INCIDENT
Pentagon: Iran forces board ship in Persian Gulf; reports: Ship trespassed Iran waters
28 Apr 16:00


PERSIAN GULF INCIDENT
AFP: US officials say Iran took Marshall Islands-flagged ship to Iranian port