Middle East News Thread

[Husky_Khan]

Something more lighthearted...

People were wondering why Lebanese Air Force planes were engaged in seemingly random circular patterns in areas near the Bekaa Valley which borders Syria and Israel.



Apparently the LAF is open for tourist flights. No ideas yet on the extra options that tourists can purchase, like use of the Maverick AGM's that can be mounted on the Cessna 208's that are now functioning as sightseeing tours as well as ground attack aircraft.

 

[Husky_Khan]

The Israeli Cargo Ship, Hyperion Two, was struck by an unidentified weapon while traveling from Jeddah on the Red Sea to the United Arab Emirates. The damage was minor and no casualties were reported. Hezbollah did apparently claim credit for the attack however.

Israeli cargo ship hit by unidentified weapon in Indian Ocean

An Israeli cargo ship was struck by an unidentified weapon Saturday in the Indian Ocean, according to reports.

nypost.com

 

[Captain X]

That sure is an ugly brick of a ship...

 

[Bacle]

That sure is an ugly brick of a ship...

It's a car carrier; the about the ugliest, brickiest ships on the water.

 

[Bacle]

The Taliban have helos now, thanks to their looting/advance.

 

[Marduk]

Dunno, that one looks more like a Mi-17 to me.
The bigger question is, was it in flyable state before it got captured, and if so, for how long will it remain so?

 

[Zachowon]

That definitely nit a Hind

 

[Husky_Khan]

Back when the Onion was mildly entertaining and prophetic.

 

[PsihoKekec]

To be fair, given how shit ANA is (still better than ANP though) it's not surprising they absconded without notifying them.

 

[Arch Dornan]

@GoldRanger How's Bibi doing? Is he close to retired or waiting for the anti Bibi coalition to fuck up and come back in?

 

[GoldRanger]

@GoldRanger How's Bibi doing? Is he close to retired or waiting for the anti Bibi coalition to fuck up and come back in?

The latter. The opposition, headed by Bibi, has recently defeated 2 attempts on voting-in laws that the coalition made. Bibi makes every effort to humiliate the coalition and proclaim it incompetent. He's dying to take the premiership back.

 

[paulobrito]

Only question is if he can do that before the justice put him in jail. Is a race.

 

[Husky_Khan]

Lotta oil infrastructure on fire this week...

 

[PsihoKekec]

And it's going to be more of this in the future, not just oil but chemical infrastructure in general. The previous financial crisis accelerated the trend of big companies not training crucial maintenance personnel, relying on contractors instead, who are also increasingly feeling the personnel crunch. Result is poorer maintenance and in industries where this can end in fire it ends in fire.

Of course it could also be Mossad or Iranians and honestly, it's easier to blame the regional enemies rather than fight corruption and institutional lethargy.

 

[Husky_Khan]

Lebanon crisis deepens as PM-designate quits over cabinet deadlock

Saad Hariri says he cannot agree a cabinet line-up with the president, after months of deadlock.

www.bbc.com

Lebanon's Prime Minister Designate Saad Hariri has resigned after a nine month long deadlock with President Michael Aoun in forming a Cabinet between their two political coalitions.

 

[Bacle]

 

[Bacle]

So those warships Iran sent out that people thought were headed to VZ...weren't. They are just off the English Channel now.

https://i.redd.it/2qaobgdtf6c71.jpg

 

[Marduk]

So those warships Iran sent out that people thought were headed to VZ...weren't. They are just off the English Channel now.

https://i.redd.it/2qaobgdtf6c71.jpg

The fuck are they doing there. Visit to Russia? They need to be watched closely, as they may want to do some of the usual limpet mine shenanigans around themselves to cause some chaos in the normally safe european waters.

 

[paulobrito]

Or they are going to get some stuff that they really don't want to be 'confiscated' by US & friends or Israelis...
Like S-400 for example.
A little difficult to do it to warships, after all.

 

[Marduk]

Or they are going to get some stuff that they really don't want to be 'confiscated' by US & friends or Israelis...
Like S-400 for example.
A little difficult to do it to warships, after all.

No, if it was purely for secure transport, Iran of all places could have whatever they want shipped straight from Russia through Russia's almost private lake, aka Caspian Sea. Much safer than having half of NATO watch from up close as they go.