Zero casualties in Iranian missile strikes?

1. In a televised address from the White House on January 8, Trump claimed that Iran "appears to be standing down" after it fired missiles at US air bases in Iraq. He said no US or Iraqi lives were lost in the attacks and the bases suffered only minimal damage.

2. Iranian FM Javad Zarif said the advance notice was provided to the Iraqi government, citing respect for Iraqi sovereignty. Iraq told the US, giving time to get people out of the way of the attack.

3. In short, the Trump administration is claiming the following:

(a) Iran's strike at air bases housing US forces in Iraq was meant to avoid casualties.

(b) Iran gave advance notice of missile attacks on the US.

In other words, the Trump administration claimed that the missiles were sent with the intent of not doing serious harm, but merely to create the illusion Iran was retaliating. However, the claim was refuted by Iran's admission early Saturday that it had unintentionally shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet.

Trump could claim zero casualties more convincingly by spinning a more exciting tale of the "The Arabian Nights' Entertainment" that more than a dozen flying carpets instead of missiles had rained down on the US air bases. It needs pinpoint accuracy to attain zero casualties and minimal damage in missile attacks. It is akin to shooting arrows at apples on the heads of people in a large crowd. Nobody can guarantee zero casualties in an explosion caused by a missile strike. The accidental downing of the Ukrainian passenger jet shows that the Iranian armed forces have no pinpoint control of the missiles.

Secondly, if Iran really wanted to give the US advance notice of the missile strikes they could have done it in a rational and safer way by warning all airlines to keep away from its airspace for a specified period of time on that day.

Thirdly, why should Iran warn its enemy that it was planning an imminent attack? Won't Iran be afraid of a surgical air strike if the US got advance warning of the missile strikes?

Fourthly, the "intelligence" cited by Mike Pence that Iran had asked its allied militias not to attack US targets could be a ruse or disinformation by Iran to catch the US off guard.

Lastly, it seemed inconceivable for the military personnel of the world's sole superpower to scramble like rats into hardened bunkers for safety without trying to knock out all the missile sites if they knew the imminent attack beforehand. The truth will be revealed if the Trump administration opens the damaged air bases to journalists and the Democrats for investigation.

 

In summation: Iran's missile strikes resulted in zero enemy casualties.

 

The Presidential elections is fast approaching, the move to assassinate Soleimani was not carefully planned, the risks involved and the mitigation required. Just brace yourselves boys " there will be a missile rain soon" and "I didn't know you were hit!".

 

Well, the Danes have stated they had several hours of advance notice. The Iraqis had 1 hour advance notice and their prime minister says he passed along the information to the Americans. What seems inconceivable to you simply arises from a huge misconception that is the result of concerted chest beating and propaganda from the 'war party' in the US, trying to give you a false sense about how an actual war with Iran would proceed. While Iran loses more from a war with the US, the US losses would be substantial and certain. And so would the losses to America's regional allies and more.

The facts regarding Iran's missile strikes are as follows:

1- Up to 20 Iranian missiles were fired at 2 US air bases, most of them targeting the Al Asad air base in western Iraq. Those missiles hit and causes substantial damage to various structures housing US aircraft of different types (drones, helicopters, aircraft), and to the headquarters of the air base. The before and after satellite imagery showing the areas of impact makes that clear. Iran has also released several videos showing the missiles which hit the US air bases. The explosions caused by those hits were substantial, even though America's 'free press' isn't all that free (and mainly in the service of propaganda, particularly during war time and hostilities) and has never really showed the videos 'released by Iran' which show the strikes clearly, despite showing many other videos from Iran on the strikes.

2- Before the strikes took place, the administration of President Rouhani (whether on his own initiative or with coordination with Iran's top leadership is not clear), gave advance notice of the strikes to the Iraqis (and many western nations). The Iraqis are on record as passing along that information to the Americans.

3- Iran has claimed that the strikes, while not targeting American soldiers and their sleeping quarters and instead focused on hitting US military assets, would inevitably caused casualties. Iran has further stated that reports from its sources in Iraq observing the base indicate that helicopters and subsequently a C-130 aircraft took wounded US soldiers from the airbase and flew them elsewhere (speculated to be to Israel). The US has claimed there were no casualties on the American side from the attacks. While this issue is not actually as straight forward and clear as some assume, the fact that the US had sufficient advance notice indirectly of the attack, makes the US position conceivable in theory. (I still am not willing to say that no casualties were suffered and my money would be on a dozen or so injured soldiers evacuated from the air base, even if their injuries might not have been life threatening necessarily).

4- The Iranian revolutionary guards and the military in Iran certainly were expecting a US response. Their forces were on high alert and, indeed, the US had even employed electronic countermeasures (jamming) of Iranian air defenses. In fact, that is one of the reasons that led to the tragedy relating to the downing of the Ukrainian flight near Tehran: communication between the operator of the air defense system and outside had been jammed by the US and that operator needed to make a split second decision.

 

In summation: Iran made a mess, and killed zero enemies.

 

You have clearly copied and pasted at least some of this given the embedded links, so what is the source? Is some of it your words?

 

The Iranian strike on the US facilities was done in a manner that demonstrated both restraint and a willingness to still cooperate with EU nations in the future. In that regard it clearly achieved it's objective. Furthermore it provided video footage to the Iranian people that they would strike back at the US and do so with precision and accuracy.

In addition this strike was executed in a manner that would NOT further escalate tensions between Iran and America. The Iranians know that they are dealing with an irrational blowhard man-child and therefore need to be the Adults on the world stage.

They have made their point!

 

Correct. This was either a way for Iran to save face or their military really sucks.

 

So you are rooting for America's enemies....bravo!

 

A detailed, thoughtful, leaving nothing to guess analysis of what has happened.

NOT

 

No my friend, it was done in a manner as not to piss the Commander-in-Chief of the US military.

 

Yep! Iran showed us, Americans!

Actually, Iran showed them, Ukrainians!

 

Yes. And they' killed scores of international travelers.

 

An added bonus.

 

What point be that? That they can arouse American Democrats to their defense?

Good point!

 

Your Tantrum-in-Chief will never have another "order" of his obeyed WITHOUT it being cross checked and approved by Congress and/or the Pentagon.

 

Entirely because of your IMPOTUS's illegal and impulsive Act of War!

 

Time to wake up and face reality!

 

Too bad that IMPOTUS supporters lack the ability to clearly assess the strengths of their opponents. The Iranians are way ahead of your Diaper-wearer-in-Chief.

 

I see. The US military killed Iran's number one terrorist, and Iran killed 180 air travelers... think of what you' posting, my friend

 

Ironic PROJECTION since IMPOTUS supporters REFUSE to deal with REALITY!

 

I love your posts! They're deliciously impotent!

 

And the reality is...

President Trump is running circles around enraged, impotent Democrats!

 

Illegal Acts of War have CONSEQUENCES!

The RASH and STUPID assassination of an official of the Iranian government put their military at high alert. It would never of happened if your IMPOTUS had obeyed the LAW!

 

Sad that you believe something that ABSURD!