Iran on high alert as Biden mulls response to killing of US servicemen

[Kennah]

Source: The Guardian

Iran has told the US via intermediaries that if it strikes Iranian soil directly, Tehran will itself hit back at American assets in the Middle East, drawing the two sides into a direct conflict.

The warning comes as Iran waits on high alert to see how Joe Biden responds to the death of three US servicemen deemed by Washington to have been killed by a Tehran-backed militia based in Syria.

US bases in Syria and Iraq have suffered more than 160 attacks of varying seriousness since Hamas’s 7 October assault on Israel.

Amid fears of a US reprisal, the Iranian rial fell to its lowest point in 40 years against the dollar, even as Tehran reiterated that the strike was the work of independent “resistance groups” – Iran’s standard response to US accusations that it proliferates military turmoil across the region by arming and training the groups. Hamas is designated a terrorist group by the US and the EU.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/30/iran-on-high-alert-joe-biden-mulls-response-to-killing-of-us-servicemen

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I'm reminded of the episode of MASH where Hunnicutt is going to try to prank all of the key staff, Hawkeye is last, but it turns out Hunnicutt only made Hawkeye think he was going to prank him and Hawkeye was a sleepless mess at the end singing "You're The Top" with his pants down. Hunnicutt never pranked any of the other staff. He enlisted them in his scheme to gaslight Hawkeye.

[Bluejeans]

1. The Iranian ayatollahs are terrified of the upcoming reprisal attack by the US

It's obvious the Iranian ayatollahs are terrified of the upcoming reprisal attack by the US. They obviously forgot that states that sponsor terrorism, such as Iran, have a big problem, namely their return address.

The ayatollahs would have to be stupid to not realize their oil fields and refineries are open targets, especially to B-2 bombers flying directly from their Missouri base on a long distance round-trip.

The ayatollahs' military advisors aren't stupid -- they must realize a submarine or ship equipped with Tomahawk missiles located in the Mediterranean between Crete and Cyprus or located in the Arabian Sea halfway between Oman and India can hit Tehran.

In short, the Iranians are terrified, so they're passing word through intermediaries threatening to attack American forces in the Middle East. That's a dumber than dirt move.

[cstanleytech]

3. The US won't hit the oil fields as it would just raise the cost of oil and Iran would still profit.

No, I suspect what they might be afraid of is an airstrip on their facilities that they are trying to build nukes at for which to probably blackmail their neighbors.

[orangecrush]

11. THIS

Let them sweat.

[C Moon]

2. Oh boy. Iran chose an election year to kill U.S. soldiers. Not a brilliant move.

[manicdem]

4. should rephrase that

So they should only kill US Soldiers on non-election years?

[C Moon]

5. C'mon. That's not necessary. What, do you work for Fox News?

[Kennah]

7. It's what Hezbollah did in 1983. I forgot what Reagan's response was, but I'm sure it was shocking and awing.

[nowforever]

6. It's all about Biden

News outlets are already portraying Biden as weak and ineffectual....what will he do what will he do they ask. Meanwhile he will intelligently discuss this option with his top intelligence and military commanders and then trust their decision. But of course the media wants to make it seem "Old Joe" is confused and wavering between some weak ass move or a a big "Shock and Awe" moment that incites WWIII. Personally I think he should shock the World and trade Trump for the Israeli hostages while simultaneously taking out Putin and Kim.

[orangecrush]

12. Welcome to DU

[maxsolomon]

8. The payback for assassinating Gen. Suleimani continues

Thanks, President Dumbass.

[Kennah]

9. I would be worried if I were General Esmail Qaani (current commander of Quds)

[maxsolomon]

10. Biden won't target an Iranian official.

He's not as dumb as Agent Orange.

[EndlessWire]

13. Didn't Iran

target Pakistan recently? Pakistan is nuclear armed. I thought that was spectacularly stupid, but nothing seems to have come of it.

I trust Biden knows what to do. He's not going to start WW3 over this incident, but I have no doubt Iran will feel it when payback comes. I would think that a lot of diplomacy is going on behind the scenes. Iran is making life difficult for everyone in the region. They have to be pushed back.