The Middle East conflict

[Railwaycat]

How do you know what weapons the B1 is carrying? It’s been widely reported that as Iran has effectively no air defences left, the US have switched to gravity bombs instead of missiles. The B1 is eminently capable of carrying those.

Widely reported where? I haven't seen it on the BBC live reporting. It's irrelevant anyway, because the same applies when an aircraft like the B1 is being used, gravity bombs are inaccurate on a small moving target - dropped from an F15 Strike Eagle or a Predator drone maybe fine, because those platforms are manouverable, unlike a great big B1. Precision weapons that can lock on the target are ideal. Gravity bombs are far more likely to cause civilian casualties, not that Trump gives a damn.

 

[nw1]

Widely reported where? I haven't seen it on the BBC live reporting. It's irrelevant anyway, because the same applies when an aircraft like the B1 is being used, gravity bombs are inaccurate on a small moving target - dropped from an F15 Strike Eagle or a Predator drone maybe fine, because those platforms are manouverable, unlike a great big B1. Precision weapons that can lock on the target are ideal. Gravity bombs are far more likely to cause civilian casualties, not that Trump gives a damn.

The fact is that whatever variety of bomb they drop, they are not welcome here. Why does the US need to drop any bombs on Iran? The Ayatollah is dead, what the hell do they want? They should pull out now and ideally work towards fixing the massive humanitarian problem that they have entirely created. Some kind of macho "look at me, aren't I tough?" bomber isn't going to do that.

But for the US, as for Russia, it's never anyone else's fault when they enact their vicious military campaigns. Both countries seem to have an unbelievably arrogant, "entitled" attitude. The leadership of the USA needs to be punished severely for this, with Trump and Hegseth deported to the Hague for a war crimes trial.

 

[JamesT]

Widely reported where? I haven't seen it on the BBC live reporting. It's irrelevant anyway, because the same applies when an aircraft like the B1 is being used, gravity bombs are inaccurate on a small moving target - dropped from an F15 Strike Eagle or a Predator drone maybe fine, because those platforms are manouverable, unlike a great big B1. Precision weapons that can lock on the target are ideal. Gravity bombs are far more likely to cause civilian casualties, not that Trump gives a damn.

How depleted weapons stockpiles could affect the Iran conflict

Weapons stocks will not alone decide the outcome of this conflict, but it's certainly a significant factor, writes the BBC's Jonathan Beale.

www.bbc.co.uk

Caine said the US had already moved from using "stand-off weapons" – more costly and sophisticated long-range weapons such as Tomahawk cruise missiles. The US Air Force is now using less expensive "stand-in" weapons – like JDAM bombs – which can be dropped above a target.

These are precision weapons, a guidance module is fitted to the gravity bomb. A B1 is manoeuvrable as bombers go, but that’s somewhat irrelevant when using guided bombs. The advantage of the B1 is it can hit many more targets on each sortie.
The targets are unlikely to be moving at the point they’re attacked. Launchers may be mobile, but they still have to stop and set up in order to fire their missiles.

 

[Railwaycat]

How depleted weapons stockpiles could affect the Iran conflict

Weapons stocks will not alone decide the outcome of this conflict, but it's certainly a significant factor, writes the BBC's Jonathan Beale.

www.bbc.co.uk

These are precision weapons, a guidance module is fitted to the gravity bomb. A B1 is manoeuvrable as bombers go, but that’s somewhat irrelevant when using guided bombs. The advantage of the B1 is it can hit many more targets on each sortie.
The targets are unlikely to be moving at the point they’re attacked. Launchers may be mobile, but they still have to stop and set up in order to fire their missiles.

From Global Defence News:

"The bomber’s weapons capacity is one of its greatest operational strengths. The B-1B can carry a broad range of conventional munitions, including JDAM precision-guided bombs, Laser JDAMs, general-purpose bombs, cluster munitions, AGM-158 JASSM, AGM-158B JASSM-ER, and AGM-158C LRASM anti-ship missiles. This allows it to perform several distinct mission sets. JDAM-family weapons are suited for attacks on fixed targets such as bunkers, storage sites, command posts and support infrastructure. JASSM and JASSM-ER extend the bomber’s reach by allowing it to hit defended targets from standoff range, while LRASM gives it a maritime strike role against surface vessels. In practical terms, the B-1B is not just a bomber; it is a high-capacity conventional strike platform able to switch between land-attack and anti-ship missions depending on campaign requirements".

I rest my case.

 

[JamesT]

From Global Defence News:

"The bomber’s weapons capacity is one of its greatest operational strengths. The B-1B can carry a broad range of conventional munitions, including JDAM precision-guided bombs, Laser JDAMs, general-purpose bombs, cluster munitions, AGM-158 JASSM, AGM-158B JASSM-ER, and AGM-158C LRASM anti-ship missiles. This allows it to perform several distinct mission sets. JDAM-family weapons are suited for attacks on fixed targets such as bunkers, storage sites, command posts and support infrastructure. JASSM and JASSM-ER extend the bomber’s reach by allowing it to hit defended targets from standoff range, while LRASM gives it a maritime strike role against surface vessels. In practical terms, the B-1B is not just a bomber; it is a high-capacity conventional strike platform able to switch between land-attack and anti-ship missions depending on campaign requirements".

I rest my case.

I’m not sure what your case is. You were wrong about the B1s being just cruise missiles. JDAMS have been used to hit moving targets before https://www.defensenews.com/air/2022/05/04/air-force-destroys-target-vessel-with-ship-killing-jdam/

The 2,000-pound GBU-31 JDAM is GPS-guided, but not self-propelled. After being released from an aircraft, the launching plane’s speed and gravity give the JDAM velocity while fins guide it toward its intended target. The maritime version is intended to be able to hit both stationary and moving targets on the water.

There are videos out there of JDAM strikes on missile launchers, though I can’t verify the authenticity so I won’t link to them.

If we agree with hitting these kind of targets, I don’t see why we should be objecting to the B1.

 

[Railwaycat]

I’m not sure what your case is. You were wrong about the B1s being just cruise missiles. JDAMS have been used to hit moving targets before https://www.defensenews.com/air/2022/05/04/air-force-destroys-target-vessel-with-ship-killing-jdam/

There are videos out there of JDAM strikes on missile launchers, though I can’t verify the authenticity so I won’t link to them.

If we agree with hitting these kind of targets, I don’t see why we should be objecting to the B1.

Moving targets on the water are nothing like a moving target on land. That's why anti ship missiles exist, the same missile would be relatively ineffective against a moving land target.

 

[brad465]

Iran has selected the previous leader's son as the next Supreme Leader:

Trump says Iran war will be over 'pretty quickly' but US hasn't 'won enough' yet

Oil prices fall as Trump threatens Iran with 'fire and fury' over Strait of Hormuz

www.bbc.co.uk

Mojtaba Khamenei to become Iran's new supreme leader
​

Iran's Assembly of Experts has chosen Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country's new supreme leader, state media reports.

Given Israel & the US's form for finding and taking out leaders, I would not give him a long life from here. However the regime change they crave will be a lot harder, given over 100,000 of the Revolutionary Guards will not give up easily, as a new regime will almost certainly have them on trial.

 

[Russel]

Iran has selected the previous leader's son as the next Supreme Leader:

Trump says Iran war will be over 'pretty quickly' but US hasn't 'won enough' yet

Oil prices fall as Trump threatens Iran with 'fire and fury' over Strait of Hormuz

www.bbc.co.uk

Given Israel & the US's form for finding and taking out leaders, I would not give him a long life from here. However the regime change they crave will be a lot harder, given over 100,000 of the Revolutionary Guards will not give up easily, as a new regime will almost certainly have them on trial.

I keep checking back here to see if there is any good news, nope.. not yet!

How many can be taken out before Trump and Bibi decide one is acceptable?

 

[Gloster]

They, Trump and Netanyahu, are not going to achieve regime change without either boots on the ground or a level of destruction that will leave an ocean of bitterness against the west and quite possibly lead to the destruction of Israel. The people are not going to risk rising until they see that the state apparatus is severely damaged and that would require either direct intervention by Western troops or complete destruction of just about every possible hidey-hole of the Revolutionary Guards, the Secret Police and various other unpalatable organisations.

They may be Shia, but to many it will be seen as an attack on Islam and that will be enough to unleash a wave of terrorist attacks across the West. Trump may well feel that the US is safe from that and the death of a load of non-Americans is a price worth paying to satisfy his ego.

Of course, there is a possibility that Trump will get bored and turn on somewhere else (Cuba, for example) and the US attack will fizzle out. Netanyahu won’t be happy but even he can’t get Trump to do everything he wants. Then the Iranian state apparatus will restart killing all those who are suspected of sneezing out of turn and what will it all have achieved: umpteen thousand Iranian and, more importantly, a few US dead, and lots of lovely resupply orders for the US arms suppliers and some convenient oil price rises? So it ever was.

 

[Russel]

They, Trump and Netanyahu, are not going to achieve regime change without either boots on the ground or a level of destruction that will leave an ocean of bitterness against the west and quite possibly lead to the destruction of Israel. The people are not going to risk rising until they see that the state apparatus is severely damaged and that would require either direct intervention by Western troops or complete destruction of just about every possible hidey-hole of the Revolutionary Guards, the Secret Police and various other unpalatable organisations.

They may be Shia, but to many it will be seen as an attack on Islam and that will be enough to unleash a wave of terrorist attacks across the West. Trump may well feel that the US is safe from that and the death of a load of non-Americans is a price worth paying to satisfy his ego.

Of course, there is a possibility that Trump will get bored and turn on somewhere else (Cuba, for example) and the US attack will fizzle out. Netanyahu won’t be happy but even he can’t get Trump to do everything he wants. Then the Iranian state apparatus will restart killing all those who are suspected of sneezing out of turn and what will it all have achieved: umpteen thousand Iranian and, more importantly, a few US dead, and lots of lovely resupply orders for the US arms suppliers and some convenient oil price rises? So it ever was.

At this point, I agree with your last paragraph, I can imagine a couple more weeks of bombing to wipe out as much of Irans infrastructure as possible before Trump declares some kind of victory, resulting in Iran having to spend the next couple of decades rebuilding...

The damage to the global economy is a big concern though.

 

[brad465]

Selling green energy as "green" is a mistake. A far more appealing term would be "anti-deranged despot energy" (as in oil, not social media rage-type energy, although Trump and co. have that too).

 

[TravelDream]

Oil has surged comfortably above $100 a barrel in early trading in Asia and Asian stocks down considerably with some exchanges having to pause trading due to significant falls.
Brent currently $115 - up $21.50 in the last 24 hours.

Some are suggesting $150+ dollars is possible this month which would be a record oil price. Petrol has never topped £2 per litre here in the UK in the (on average), but it seems quite possible.

It's going to cause significant inflationary pressures and dramatically increases the likelihood of a US and global recession this year.

The question is Trump going to TACO as usual and how Iran is going to react if he does.

Selling green energy as "green" is a mistake. A far more appealing term would be "anti-deranged despot energy" (as in oil, not social media rage-type energy, although Trump and co. have that too).

Such a shame the coalition government torpedoed nuclear expansion.

 

[nw1]

At this point, I agree with your last paragraph, I can imagine a couple more weeks of bombing to wipe out as much of Irans infrastructure as possible before Trump declares some kind of victory, resulting in Iran having to spend the next couple of decades rebuilding...

The damage to the global economy is a big concern though.

I hope any powerful-enough companies or organisations who are damaged by this sue Trump until he is penniless and begging in the streets.

Meanwhile the Mail and Express are whinging about the loss of the "special relationship".

Funny how all those Brexiters claim to want British "independence", but they're all too happy for the UK to be Trump's lapdog.

 

[Mogster]

I’m still surprised just how easy the US/Israeli clearing of the Iranian air defences seems to have been. Although they aren’t supporting a ground offensive and are mostly still using stand off weapons against fixed targets it seems. Ranging more over Iran in daylight with non-stealth aircraft would presumably be more dangerous. The Houthis were shooting down US MQ-9 Reaper drones quite regularly in 2025, the USAF have admitted they came close to shooting down manned aircraft also and the air defence over Yemen was rapidly becoming more organised. If the Houthis can cause a problem then why can the Iranians not?

There doesn’t seem to have been much UK reporting of Irans attacks on the US supported Middle Eastern radar net. These systems are static and similar to those at Fylingdales in the UK. Once damaged/destroyed they are not easy to repair or replace as well as being very expensive. Article below from very pro US site but there is quite a lot of detail, photos of the damage etc.

Iranian Attacks On Prized Missile Defense Radars Are A Wake-Up Call

Iran's targeting of key and largely static missile defense radars in the Middle East highlight global vulnerabilities.

www.twz.com

As expected, Iran has repeatedly targeted prized missile defense radars across the Middle East in retaliation for the joint U.S.-Israeli air campaign that is ongoing. Iran’s attacks on high-value radars that enable the region’s missile defense capabilities appear to have succeeded on multiple occasions. The irony that lower-end long-range kamikaze drones are perhaps the biggest threat to extremely advanced radars capable of providing telemetry for intercepting targets traveling at hypersonic speeds, sometimes in space, is glaring. The losses of the radars and/or damage to their facilities should finally serve as a stark wake-up call regarding the vulnerability of these critical but largely static assets.

 

[Russel]

I’m still surprised just how easy the US/Israeli clearing of the Iranian air defences seems to have been. Although they aren’t supporting a ground offensive and are mostly still using stand off weapons against fixed targets it seems. Ranging more over Iran in daylight with non-stealth aircraft would presumably be more dangerous. The Houthis were shooting down US MQ-9 Reaper drones quite regularly in 2025, the USAF have admitted they came close to shooting down manned aircraft also and the air defence over Yemen was rapidly becoming more organised. If the Houthis can cause a problem then why can the Iranians not?

The US and Israeli can take out as much Iranian military gear as they like, but Iran still has the world economy in a chokehold and quite honestly, that is what we should be more concerned about right now, especially if this turns into another forever war.

 

[nw1]

The US and Israeli can take out as much Iranian military gear as they like, but Iran still has the world economy in a chokehold and quite honestly, that is what we should be more concerned about right now, especially if this turns into another forever war.

And it is all Trump's fault. This man needs to be removed, internally within the USA (i.e pressurised very strongly to resign by members of his own party and military, perhaps with some kind of deal regarding not pursuing some of his alleged misdeeds too deeply), right now. The man is a menace.

Billionaire Trump doesn't give two hoots about the economy, of course. Unless he finds himself in front of a judge, the man is sorted for the rest of his life - time for him to resign immediately and get lost to Mar-a-Lago.

 

[JamesT]

And it is all Trump's fault. This man needs to be removed, internally within the USA (i.e pressurised very strongly to resign by members of his own party and military, perhaps with some kind of deal regarding not pursuing some of his alleged misdeeds too deeply), right now. The man is a menace.

Billionaire Trump doesn't give two hoots about the economy, of course. Unless he finds himself in front of a judge, the man is sorted for the rest of his life - time for him to resign immediately and get lost to Mar-a-Lago.

All Trump's fault? No agency whatsoever for a regime that has spent decades destabilising the region?

 

[nw1]

All Trump's fault? No agency whatsoever for a regime that has spent decades destabilising the region?

I'm sorry, I don't buy that right-wing propaganda. We've "lived" with Iran for decades.

Now we have a regional conflict and energy prices going up. All thanks to Trump.

I'm sorry, but it's 100%, totally, his fault.

Don't you think that Iran will become even more militant now, and even more resentful of the USA and (more worryingly for us) the West in general?

 

[Russel]

All Trump's fault? No agency whatsoever for a regime that has spent decades destabilising the region?

The reason we're all now going to feel the pain here is because of Trump and his puppet master Bibi.

 

[JamesT]

I'm sorry, I don't buy that right-wing propaganda.

How is it right-wing propaganda? Are you denying the clear facts that Iran has funded and controlled Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, militias in Syria and Iraq?

 

[nw1]

How is it right-wing propaganda? Are you denying the clear facts that Iran has funded and controlled Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, militias in Syria and Iraq?

Maybe, but at the end of the day, is bombing them into oblivion worth it?

Don't you think it will cause more damage than it purportedly solves?

Are you happy with high energy bills, economic damage, and greater risks of reprisals against the West due to Trump's hawkish militarism? Don't you think it's more likely now that they'll want to develop nukes, because if they have them, the USA will leave them well alone (see Russia)? Don't you honestly think that we would all have been better off just leaving Iran alone? They're nasty, but so is Russia. And North Korea. And we don't go messing with them.

 

[Gloster]

The Iranian regime is a thoroughly nasty one and all will be well rid of it when or if it goes. However, it has had forty-seven years of preparing to be attacked and other countries, particularly Iraq, have learnt that it is no pushover, so we can only wait until it finally collapses under its own contradictions. Careful and well-directed prods at times may help and bring forward the end.

Encouraged by Netanyahu, who at least has the excuse of constant immediate and present danger, Trump has gone charging in like a drunk who has been thrown out of a bar with no plan as to what to do other than than lash out. Not surprisingly, the Iranians have reacted by becoming more entrenched and resistant to change. (‘Resistant to change’ means even more likely to kill anyone who they think is well, not, you know, one of us…) So yes, Trump is to blame for starting a war with no clear idea of how to go beyond the big bombing spectacle and achieving the aims that they are still inventing. Still, oil shares are on the up.

 

[nw1]

Still, oil shares are on the up.

Funny, that. Just saying.

 

[Railwaycat]

How is it right-wing propaganda? Are you denying the clear facts that Iran has funded and controlled Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, militias in Syria and Iraq?

And have you ever considered how and why those militias came into being in the first place (don't know about the Houthis)? Couldn't possibly be anything to do with an expansionist Israel or a military adventure in Iraq by the west by any chance?

While no one should support the atrocities committed by these groups, grievances can lead to desperate actions.

 

[edwin_m]

And have you ever considered how and why those militias came into being in the first place (don't know about the Houthis)? Couldn't possibly be anything to do with an expansionist Israel or a military adventure in Iraq by the west by any chance?

While no one should support the atrocities committed by these groups, grievances can lead to desperate actions.

And ISIS is a Sunni group, not controlled by Iran which is dominated by the Shia Muslims with no love lost between them.

 

[PudseyBearHST]

All Trump's fault? No agency whatsoever for a regime that has spent decades destabilising the region?

We’re talking about Israel surely who’ve attacked, with America’s help, all their neighbours like they said would? They’ve finally got the war they’ve wanted for decades. And within a couple days, we’re already now being told by the Israeli former PM Bennett that “Turkey is the new Iran” and how dangerous Erdogan is.

(Clip shows former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett talking about the threat of Turkey)

It is right wing propaganda to keep spreading the idea that Iran is a threat to the West. Israel, on the other hand, are with the way they’ve infiltrated their way into politics in the West and mainstream media (no, this is not a conspiracy theory, just have a look into AIPAC, how much money politicians have been getting from Israel lobbies/billionaires and have a look who owns the media) Jeffrey Epstein has been a big scandal as of recent but the media never talk about his very obvious connection with Israel, instead trying to suggest he was working for Russia???!

 

[brad465]

We’re talking about Israel surely who’ve attacked, with America’s help, all their neighbours like they said would? They’ve finally got the war they’ve wanted for decades. And within a couple days, we’re already now being told by the Israeli former PM Bennett that “Turkey is the new Iran” and how dangerous Erdogan is.

(Clip shows former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett talking about the threat of Turkey)

It is right wing propaganda to keep spreading the idea that Iran is a threat to the West. Israel, on the other hand, are with the way they’ve infiltrated their way into politics in the West and mainstream media (no, this is not a conspiracy theory, just have a look into AIPAC, how much money politicians have been getting from Israel lobbies/billionaires and have a look who owns the media) Jeffrey Epstein has been a big scandal as of recent but the media never talk about his very obvious connection with Israel, instead trying to suggest he was working for Russia???!

There's also this quote that Biden made from his Senate days:

(Video: Joe Biden says if Israel didn't exist, the US would have to invent one to protect US interests)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Mar 2026 ==

The US and Israeli can take out as much Iranian military gear as they like, but Iran still has the world economy in a chokehold and quite honestly, that is what we should be more concerned about right now, especially if this turns into another forever war.

The latest from Trump and the sudden drop in oil prices back to more or less where they started today (they rose $30 a barrel and fell back almost as much), suggests he's getting ready to TACO:

Trump says Iran war will be over 'pretty quickly' but US hasn't 'won enough' yet

Oil prices fall as Trump threatens Iran with 'fire and fury' over Strait of Hormuz

www.bbc.co.uk

President Donald Trump is continuing with his speech, saying the war will "be finished pretty quickly".

"Within a week they were going to attack us 100%. They were ready. They had all these missiles far more than anyone thought, and they were going to attack us, but they were going to attack all of the Middle East and Israel.

"And if they had a nuclear weapon, they would have used it on Israel. And this was going to be a major attack. I know they had all of those missile sites and all those launchers that we got rid of, about 80% of them right now, by the way, got rid of most of the, you know, see, it's died down to a trickle. They have very few launches left."

Trump continues by saying the military had been "amazing".

"And the missiles have been largely knocked out. the drones have been knocked down, and we're hitting where they make the drones," Trumps says.

"We know them all, and we're knocking the hell out of that. Now, where they manufacture the drones. A lot of work, a lot of brilliant work. But we're going to have a much safer world as soon as it's finished, and it's going to be finished pretty quickly."

 

[Vexed]

4 hours ago Trump said the war was "very complete, pretty much". But later he said "but we haven't won enough" so I'm not sure how complete is defined in his dictionary He's just as volatile as usual. Brent Crude oil dropped $15 to $85 on his first comments but has since gone up a bit.

Trump says Iran war 'very complete, pretty much' and ahead of schedule

Donald Trump has suggested the war against Iran could be over soon, telling the BBC’s US media partner CBS News: “I think the war is very complete, pretty much."

He says the US is “very far ahead of schedule", adding Iran has “no navy, no communications, they've got no air force,” and claims their missiles are “down to a scatter”.

When asked if he thinks the war could be over soon, Trump responds: “Wrapping up is all in my mind.”

The White House has previously indicated the war, which is on its tenth day, could last for more than a month.

Trump says US hasn't 'won enough' in Iran

Trump is speaking about Iran again in Florida, a couple of hours after saying the war is "very complete, pretty much".

He says: "We took a little excursion because we felt we had to do that to get rid of some evil. Then, I think you'll see it's going to be a short term excursion."

He goes on to say: "We've already won in many ways, but we haven't won enough. We go forward, more determined than ever to achieve ultimate victory that will end this long running danger once and for all. "

Trump also refers to the killing of Iran's most senior military leader during his first term, Qasem Soleimani.

He says: "They may have been much more capable than they are, had he lived. Because he was capable. He was vicious, violent and capable. But we got rid of him first."

Trump says Iran war will be over 'pretty quickly' but US hasn't 'won enough' yet, as Israel launches strikes on Tehran

The US president says he is "more determined than ever to achieve ultimate victory", hours after telling CBS News the war is "very complete, pretty much".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[gabrielhj07]

We’re talking about Israel surely who’ve attacked, with America’s help, all their neighbours like they said would? They’ve finally got the war they’ve wanted for decades. And within a couple days, we’re already now being told by the Israeli former PM Bennett that “Turkey is the new Iran” and how dangerous Erdogan is.

I can't wait to see them convince the USA that bombing Turkey will be in their interests.

 

[Spamcan81]

Sinking a ship in international waters, without a declaration of war, is in itself a war crime, It's just going to reduce America's standing in the world, even lower, Trump, may not give a fig about international law, but civilised countries do, America first, is going to be America alone.

As regards Spain, Have they got any F35's on Order, ? best cancel them, and talk to Canada about buying Canadian built Gripens with RR engines.

IIRC they’re ordering more Eurofighter Typhoons.