[Werthead]

A French naval base in Abu Dhabi was hit by a drone. A Iranian Shahed has also hit an Emirati oil rig in the Persian Gulf, possibly the start of targeting oil infrastructure in the Gulf. An oil tanker off the Omani coast, the Skylight, has also taken a hit. Iran has also hit Oman for the first time.

Unconfirmed report that Ahmadinejad has been killed.

An IRGC naval facility in Bandar Abbas has been hit and suffered significant damage.

Israel claims to have suppressed AA assets over Tehran, allowing Israeli and US combat aircraft freedom of action.

More of Iran's fairly nominal airforce has been destroyed on the tarmac, with an F-4 and F-5 destroyed at Tabriz.

Refuelling tankers at Kuwait's Ali Al Salam Airbase have been destroyed by Iranian missiles.

Israeli aircraft have engaged IRGC-backed militias at Al-Wajihiya, Diyala Province, Iraq.

The UK has downplayed reports that two Iranian missiles were headed towards their base in Cyprus. It appears the missiles were headed to Israel.

[Primateus]

So, uh, war is bad and all. But "Epic Fury" is a fucking stupid name for a military operation! I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's "cringe af!".

I just needed to get that off my chest, sorry.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Primateus, on 01 March 2026 - 03:25 PM, said:

So, uh, war is bad and all. But "Epic Fury" is a fucking stupid name for a military operation! I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's "cringe af!".

I just needed to get that off my chest, sorry.

The full title is Operation Epic Fury---adds some extra consonance ("pee-pee" (Op-Ep), r&r... (uhray-uhree)).

[Lady Bliss]

I’m terrified about what is happening there. My son is stationed somewhere over there. I know his MOS wouldn’t have him on the front lines but…

[Lady Bliss]

Oh and what is Europe’s position on all of this.

[Werthead]

The US is going after the Iranian Navy to deny them any ability to blockade the straits. Nine ships sunk so far, unclear if the larger Iranian drone carriers have been hit.

Tehran has also said that attacks on Oman were a mistake by local commanders, who have been chastised.

The Pakistani Taliban have congratulated (checks notes) Israel for striking the apostate state of Iran and confirmed they will back anyone trying to thrown down the evil regime.

Apparently Iran's plan is to continue inflicting pain on the Gulf states' infrastructure and, if they join the attacks, will then target oil platforms and oil fields directly, in the Gulf and inland on the opposing side. Some of these fields are in artillery range of Iran, let alone missiles.

However, some analysis that Iran cannot sustain this missile temp indefinitely and will start running dry on some missile stocks within days, and could exhaust itself fully in months.

The US has confirmed that Iran's anti-ship ballistic missiles got nowhere near the Abraham Lincoln.

Oman's foreign minister has claimed that Iran agreed to zero-percent enriched uranium several hours before the bombing campaign started.

Chinese nationals are leaving Iran in significant numbers, some driving over the border to Pakistan to catch flights from there.

Due to the closure of airspace, all flights between Europe and east Asia are being routed through a narrow corridor over the Caspian, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey. For some reason, flying civilian airliners that close to the Russian border is making people jumpy.

US B-2 bombers have carried out their first strikes of the conflict, hitting hardened shelters related to Iran's missile programme.

The Jebel Ali port in Dubai is burning, with a warehouse destroyed and oil tanks on fire.

Maersk has ordered the immediate cessation of all ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has ordered the Saudi military to respond in kind to any further strikes on Saudi soil by Iran's military forces. Trump has agreed to integrate Saudi military options with American strikes. So we could see Saudi and Israeli aircraft flying sorties against a common foe, which would certainly be something.

Quote

Oh and what is Europe’s position on all of this.

French and British aircraft are flying missile defence over Israel but not taking part in offensive action. However, that may change if Iran's attacks on Qatar, Bahrain and Dubai start hitting European expat compounds.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Here's hoping that they get the bad guys soon---which is to say: that Iranian assassins take out Trump and Netanyahu. Maybe Vance and Johnson too---the presidency would then go to Grassley, who seems to be one of the less terrible Republicans these days (apparently not MAGA, and he probably wouldn't want to become dictator).

Almost certainly wishful thinking though.

I do also hope that the Iranian government becomes secular again: the religious oppression of the Iranian people has been terrible. But the Revolutionary Guard seems extremely devout, numerous, and well-prepared for extended military conflict.

Quote

Iran's supreme leader may be dead, but there will be another. Its slain military commanders will be replaced. A governing system created over 47 years will not easily disintegrate under air power alone. [...]

Iran will try to rapidly increase the cost for Israel, the United States and its Gulf allies "to force them to back down before this succeeds in destabilizing the regime," [...] Increasing its attacks on Arab countries in the gulf is risky but may be Iran's best chance to shorten the war — since it could prompt the Arab world to pressure the U.S. and Israel to end their campaign. [...] "They expect that if Trump does not get a quick win then he will look for an exit, and negotiations afterwards will be different."

Iran's Regime May Survive, but the Middle East Will Be Changed - The New York Times

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 01 March 2026 - 06:13 PM

[Mentalist]

3 tankers hit in the Hormuz straight, which is gonna make traffic complicated.

Toddler-in-chief is asking for negotiations. Iran predictably telling him to fuck himself.

Seriously, if your stated goal is regime change, and then you want to talk about the very regime you're trying to change- you're what? expecting them to negotiate how they'll disband?

The lack of any mid-term planning is astounding.


The Shah is claiming he can lead "up to several years" of transition... he'd be be dead within a week in Iran, imho.

God, this shit is so dumb....

[Maark Abbott]

The US bombs a school killing a large number of schoolgirls.

Once again, Trump can't keep cylindrical objects away from young girls.

And now it looks like our government is allowing use of air bases for the war of aggression which makes the UK a target again. Lovely.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Maark Abbott, on 02 March 2026 - 07:28 AM, said:

The US bombs a school killing a large number of schoolgirls.

Once again, Trump can't keep cylindrical objects away from young girls.

And now it looks like our government is allowing use of air bases for the war of aggression which makes the UK a target again. Lovely.

MAGA and its Israeli brethren are using the "human shield" argument---that the Iranian government followed Hamas's example in intentionally placed a children's school next to the Revolutionary Guard barracks.

The Guardian has confirmed that it was in fact "adjacent to" a Revolutionary Guard barracks.

https://www.theguard...n-southern-iran

It seems plausible. With the choice of a girls' school in particular not just because girls are seen as weaker and more deserving of protection, but to remind the world of Iran's high female youth literacy rate and relatively high percentage of female STEM graduates. Though the viral social media posts on the subject of female literacy in Iran and female STEM graduation (sorry for using the word "female" if that's become redolent of the manosphere, but it is convenient here for describing ages 15-24) are not accurate, according to Snopes:

Quote

The aforementioned posts do not cite accurate statistics. [...] The most recently available UNESCO data for Iran's youth literacy rate based on survey and census results actually comes from 2016, with a rate of 98% among female residents over 15 years old. [... A] projections model estimated that 99% of Iran's female youth in 2022 — defined as ages 15 to 24 — were literate. Globally, 90% of young women from the same age group had basic literacy skills in 2016.

[...] The 70% STEM graduate statistic may be based on (usually) reputable sources: For example, Bloomberg claimed in a 2012 story that 68% of "science graduates" in Iran were women and Forbes claimed in a 2015 story, without citing evidence, that "70% of Iran's science and engineering students are women." [...]

However, UNESCO data clearly shows the percentage of Iran's female STEM graduates has never reached over 35% since 2003, the first year data appears available. Still, Iran's rate of female STEM graduates sails above the United States, where women made up only 12.7% of STEM graduates as of the most recently available data from 2021. Globally, from 2018 to 2023, women accounted for 35% of STEM graduates, according to UNESCO, meaning both Iran and the United States appear to fall behind the rest of the world.

https://www.snopes.c...(see%20Page%203).

... still better than US...

While it may be true that the Iranian government intentionally placed the school there for this purpose, that doesn't justify shooting through the human shield and then blaming it on the Iranians. Of course so-called "collateral damage" is nothing new for the United States, though this is a particularly egregious, terrible, and tragic example.

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 02 March 2026 - 01:29 PM

[QuickTidal]

120 times the USA has done Regime change, and I could be wrong, but I don't think it's gone well for ANY nation it's done it to.

We have Iranian friends who fled the regime and live in Canada now, and they are cheering this on and I don't have the heart to be like "Ask Iraq, or Libya, or Afghanistan how that went" to them. Nevermind that the Shah's that were in power before the Ayatollah were just as corrupt and dictator-ish as the current regime, just with a western intervetnionist slant...like the son of the last guy seems to think he's going to be installed as the new Shah now...the last 4 shahs all died in exile FFS

This is very much a careful what you wish for situation.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 02 March 2026 - 12:34 PM

[the broken]

Maark Abbott, on 02 March 2026 - 07:28 AM, said:

The US bombs a school killing a large number of schoolgirls.

Once again, Trump can't keep cylindrical objects away from young girls.

And now it looks like our government is allowing use of air bases for the war of aggression which makes the UK a target again. Lovely.

Is the rape joke about 150 dead schoolgirls really necessary?

[Planck]

There is a lot of confusion around the missile attack on the Iranian girl school - could have been an Iranian misfire.

Whatever the case may be, it’s horrific.

[Maark Abbott]

the broken, on 02 March 2026 - 01:27 PM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 02 March 2026 - 07:28 AM, said:

The US bombs a school killing a large number of schoolgirls.

Once again, Trump can't keep cylindrical objects away from young girls.

And now it looks like our government is allowing use of air bases for the war of aggression which makes the UK a target again. Lovely.

Is the rape joke about 150 dead schoolgirls really necessary?

Is a comment defending the sitting president of the united states of america bombing a fucking school and starting ANOTHER fucking middle eastern war because he's a fucking paedophile trying to escape the consequences of his noncery necessary?

No, but you do you.

Also, for the record, there was no joke.

[QuickTidal]

2 things.

1. According to the USA (and Israel) Iran has been 2 weeks away from having a nuclear arsenal since I was like 3 years old. No one is buying this line anymore from either nation, the latter of which has a nuclear arsenal they refuse to give info on to their allies....but yeah Iran was the dangerous one?

2. Was Ayatollah a good person and was his regime good? Obviously not, but anyone pretending the Shah's were much better, or that US Interventionist Regime Change will result in a better country is not operating on all cylinders. Hey, even every recent example of this shows how poorly this has gone.

[Garak]

If anyone is a danger with nukes it's Israel. Isn't it their plan that if the country falls they'll fire everything at everyone?

[Maark Abbott]

QuickTidal, on 02 March 2026 - 05:24 PM, said:

2 things.

1. According to the USA (and Israel) Iran has been 2 weeks away from having a nuclear arsenal since I was like 3 years old. No one is buying this line anymore from either nation, the latter of which has a nuclear arsenal they refuse to give info on to their allies....but yeah Iran was the dangerous one?

2. Was Ayatollah a good person and was his regime good? Obviously not, but anyone pretending the Shah's were much better, or that US Interventionist Regime Change will result in a better country is not operating on all cylinders. Hey, even every recent example of this shows how poorly this has gone.

The whole 'oh they might have WMDs' was the same bollocks justification Bush and Blair gave for the invasion of Iraq way back when. Seeing it happen all over again is... disheartening, to say the least.

Garak, on 02 March 2026 - 06:41 PM, said:

If anyone is a danger with nukes it's Israel. Isn't it their plan that if the country falls they'll fire everything at everyone?

Israel can't be trusted in any capacity. And after the genocide is over, regardless of the outcome, that country will be utterly reviled for generations to come. Might not be the first genocide ever committed, but as far as I'm aware it's the first and most visible of the internet age. Can't hide what's going on there.

[Mentalist]

IRGC now stating they're going to target any ship in the Hormuz straight AND bomb oil pipelines in the Gulf states.

While IDF is carpet-bombing Tehran.

Rubio is bleating out excuses for the war. "If we didn't attack now, by the end of the year they'd stockpile enough drones and missiles so that we wouldn't be able to hit them anymore. And Israel REALLY wanted to be able to keep hitting them! So, as you can see, we had no choice!"

6 US soldiers confirmed dead, btw.

[Werthead]

Some Iranian missiles directed towards oil refineries in the Gulf. That could cause real pain if they went after them hard.

One unconfirmed report that a regular Iranian army unit has refused IRGC orders to join them in suppressing protestors in Tehran, leading to an exchange of fire. Other Iranian units have refused to transfer AA assets to IRGC forces. The regular Iranian military has taken some damage, but nothing like the fire that has been directed at IRGC command and control nodes and bases. The IRGC may have lost control of parts of Tehran due to several of their bases being destroyed with significant casualties.

Beijing has reportedly gotten Tehran to guarantee safe passage for oil shipments through the Straits of Hormuz, at least for Chinese ships or those bound for China. Though that's in question, an hour ago Iranian representatives were saying they will set fire to the straits if anyone tries to pass through (how they plan to do that is another question, but still).

One report breaking that Saudi Arabia gave Trump the greenlight for attacking Iran, possibly a result of "alarming" intelligence about the direction of travel of Iran's missile and nuclear programmes. Saudi and Iran were very heavily opposed to one another up until a few years ago, when China brokered a deal, and Saudi has been much more cautious since then, so interesting they went in full-throttled support of Israel and the US attacking Iran. Some Saudi sources have even urged Saudi Arabia to join in, but that seems to being held off at the moment as the idea of Saudi and Israeli jets flying into combat on the same side is still unpalatable to a lot of people. But Trump is apparently pushing Saudi recognition of Israel again in the background.

Apparently some Ukrainian anti-drone units (or rather, people from them in rotation off the front line) might already be in the UAE and Qatar with advice for those governments on how to handle low-cost drones. Qatar is warning that it's Patriot batteries will run dry in 4 days at current rates of fire.

Trump has reportedly turned down a call from Putin over the crisis.

Turkey has offered to mediate the crisis. Less confirmed reports that Turkey has told Iran bluntly what they will do if Iran targets the major US airbase at Incirlik.

American KIA have risen to 6, along with three F-15s shot down over Kuwait in an apparent friendly fire incident.

Greece has deployed F-16s to Cyprus to help intercept incoming drones.

The Shahid Bagheri, possibly the most advanced ship in the Iranian Navy (not saying much), has apparently been destroyed. Total Iranian naval asset losses are eleven, leaving no Iranian ships east of the Straits of Hormuz.

The Israelis and Americans appear to have targeted the fuel enrichment complex at Natanz, with significant damage shown.

Damage to the US 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain is considerably more extensive than first reported, with two radar systems destroyed and four buildings levelled.

It appears Russia may have back-sold Shaheds to Iran; one of the drones shot down over Cyprus had Russian-made satellite navigation systems.

Air alert sirens sounding in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Amman, unclear if Amman is under direct attack (for the first time in the conflict) or missiles are overflying to Israel.

Israel has come under a strong bombardment of advanced ballistic missiles with multiple warheads.

A Patriot battery fired TWELVE interceptors to take down what appear to be munitions from 2-3 Iranian missiles. That exchange rate is not going to work.

Currently over 150 ships are holding on either side of the Straits of Hormuz, unwilling to risk crossing. Several ships that did cross earlier may have been Chinese.

This post has been edited by Werthead: 02 March 2026 - 11:12 PM

[Grief]

I'm not a Shah apologist by any stretch but the last Shah is not especially comparable to the current regime. The current regime has most likely executed more of its opponents since the start of this year than the Shah did over his entire tenure. Iran returning to monarchy does not look like a remotely viable option for the country either way.

Indeed, it's not clear what kind of off-ramp is at all feasible longer-term.

The IRGC has consolidated the traditional pillars of power in Iran - military, economic, and religious - around itself to a substantial extent. It's hard to imagine a new regime emerging without backing from within it.

By contrast, if you look to 1979 or at 1953, you had these poles of power independent from the sitting government that mobilised against it.

The optimist in me hopes that this somehow leads to a better outcome for the people of Iran, but the most likely option simply seems to be an equally horrible regime continues in place while living standards drop precariously as a result of the invasion.