# United States and Israel are bombing Iran {for current/ongoing events, past/future have specific threads} **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump, iran-strikes-2026\ **Created:** [February 28, 2026, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071 "2026-02-28T07:56:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 38
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/744 "2026-03-12T14:28:59Z")
Exactly, Iran’s only hope of not being bombed any time the U.S. or Israel wants resides not on beating them at the air combat game, but to demonstrate that the consequences are costlier than they want to pay. Alternatively they could surrender unconditionally and let Donald Trump select their leaders but for some reason they seem disinclined to take that option… A third alternative: Sitting down in the negotiating table and hammer out a compromise which it all parties could live, is precluded by the lack of reliable negotiating partners… ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/745 "2026-03-12T14:29:41Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Maybe Iran does have technical abilities to clear the mines (I dunno, using suicide drone boats or something?) This is how the IRGC clears mines: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/aHZRvpuW8QM/maxresdefault.jpg "The untold story of the Iran-Iraq war's frontline children - BBC World Service Documentaries") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHZRvpuW8QM) That’s why some of us think that the regime has to go. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/746 "2026-03-12T14:30:12Z")
It’s not just mines, and my Navy experience and knowledge suggests that mines are just a relatively small part of the risk. When you hold territory along that strait, it’s just ridiculously easy to threaten shipping continuously with very, very low cost. Really, all you need are speedboats and small arms. You don’t even need drones. Just send guys out with RPGs and machine guns, and you’re doing big damage to global trade. That’s one of the big reasons why this war was so stupid - because of how easy it is for Iran to gum up foreign trade. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/747 "2026-03-12T14:31:18Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > But the link in German says that the block will be permanent because nobody has the technology to clear them. I suspect that’s the main reason Iran has not completely flushed the strait with mines. They are using small numbers so it can be both a threat and not so hard to clean afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/748 "2026-03-12T14:34:22Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > I don’t get their logic. Iran is still using the Strait to ship oil to China. Closing the Strait is really their only card to play and it is a good one. If they can disrupt economies, then affected countries (e.g. China and Saudi Arabia) will start to pressure the US in their own ways. > **[Iran sends millions of oil barrels to China through Strait of Hormuz even as...](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/11/iran-ships-oil-china-strait-hormuz-closure-.html#:~:text=Iran%20sends%20millions%20of%20oil,as%20war%20chokes%20the%20waterway)** > > Iran has continued to ship crude oil via the Strait of Hormuz to China even as the war between U.S.-Israel and Iran has disrupted broader energy supplies via the waterway. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/749 "2026-03-12T15:34:14Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > the Strait of Hormuz will be vital to Iran, more than to the rest of the world. > > I don’t get their logic. If they are not completely stupid they will have a map indicating where the mines are. They can make a lot of money in demining services, and guess who is gonna pay for that? Hint: It’s not the Mexicans. > [@chappachula](#): > > But the link in German says that the block will be permanent because nobody has the technology to clear them. That is not exactly what the link says. It says the USA might have problems clearing away the mines on their own in a short time. Locating the mines is one big obstacle. The Iranian Navy should know where they dropped the mines. > [@Babale](#): > > This is how the IRGC clears mines: That happened indeed when Saddam Hussein attacked Iran (with the **[blessings of the USA](https://www.democraticunderground.com/10028356916)**, BTW. The current illegitimate president is not the first, nor the second, nor the third… illegitimate president to make a stupid mistake in that region). But those were landmines, seamines are different. On one hand, they don’t react to children, they are not magnetic. On the other, Iran should know where they are, which they did not know then. > [@Babale](#): > > That’s why some of us think that the regime has to go. Oh, it’s about the children now! Iranian children! You could have said that 45 years ago. > [@Babale](#): > > The difference is that Iran […] You almost make it sound like you believed I was on Iran’s side. To make this very clear one more time: I am not. I consider the ayahlollahs and mullahs a murderous group of fanatic despicable assholes. I could go on for a while, but you get the general idea. But I also think that the USA and Israel are being short sighted hypocrites. Again. I don’t want to wheigh one war crime against a crime against humanity. You can’t right a wrong with another wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/750 "2026-03-12T17:40:52Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Exactly, Iran’s only hope of not being bombed any time the U.S. or Israel wants resides not on beating them at the air combat game, but to demonstrate that the consequences are costlier than they want to pay. > Alternatively they could surrender unconditionally and let Donald Trump select their leaders but for some reason they seem disinclined to take that option… > A third alternative: Sitting down in the negotiating table and hammer out a compromise which it all parties could live, is precluded by the lack of reliable negotiating partners… Also the second option doesn’t work for the same reason the third doesn’t; they have no reason to think that unconditional surrender _would_ stop either Trump or Israel from attacking them. Or would accept a compromise of any sort. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/751 "2026-03-12T18:20:24Z")
It worked for Venezuela. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/752 "2026-03-12T20:20:07Z")
For now. Iran is Muslim however, and therefore unlike Venezuela a permanent target of the US. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/753 "2026-03-12T20:24:51Z")
And the USA has more scores to settle with Iran than with Venezuela. No, it does not matter who started when. Not that Venezuela is lacking those scores to settle too, mind you, just think of Hugo Chávez saying at the UN that it **[smelled of sulfur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Ch%C3%A1vez_speech_at_the_United_Nations)**, but there is still a big difference. Some orders of magnitude. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/754 "2026-03-12T21:03:42Z")
**Moderating:** > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > For now. Iran is Muslim however, and therefore unlike Venezuela a permanent target of the US. This is definitely too broad a topic to be discussed in this thread, if you wish to continue a discussion on this assertation, please create your own thread to do so. No warnings, but let’s all be careful about the current focus. > **How to Reply as a linked Topic** > > Click Reply, in the upper left corner of the reply window is the reply type button, _looks like a curving arrow point to the right_. > > Choose **Reply as linked topic** and it starts a new thread. As an example, you can choose GD, IMHO or The Pit for it. > > That is actually the best method. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/755 "2026-03-12T21:03:53Z")
We have a misunderstanding here, if the current regime _unconditionally surrendered_ and let Trump govern their country the bombing would cease. It would just require them to let their country became a de facto U.S. colony, something that surely is not against everything they have ever stood for, fought for and worked for… ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/756 "2026-03-12T22:53:19Z")
An American KC-135 tanker has gone down. > **[US military announces rescue effort after fueling aircraft crashes in Iraq](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/12/us-military-announces-loss-of-refueling-aircraft-over-western-iraq)** > > No deaths have been reported so far, but the military said the crash involved two aircraft, one of which landed safely. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/757 "2026-03-12T23:25:10Z")
I haven’t seen any news outlets bring up the fact that Iran attacked **540 tankers/ships** and completely sank 30 in the Strait of Hormuz during 1980’s **Tankers War**. This is why there is a 5th fleet in Bahrain. After 3 years of Iran bombing ships the US stepped in and it took almost three years for Iran to capitulate. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/758 "2026-03-12T23:27:45Z")
Aircraft loss. > **[KC-135 Tanker Crashes In Iraq During Operation Epic Fury Sortie](https://www.twz.com/air/kc-135-tanker-crashes-in-iraq-during-operation-epic-fury-sortie)** > > U.S. Central Command says two aircraft were involved in the incident and that a search and rescue effort is currently underway. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/759 "2026-03-12T23:42:34Z")
Mentioned 2 posts above. No identification of affected unit or homebase, no information about casualties or cause, other than “not hostile action”. So mechanical issue, pilot error, that kind of thing. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/760 "2026-03-13T00:17:29Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > So mechanical issue, pilot error, that kind of thing. There was another plane involved. So a collision, most likely with an aircraft it was refueling. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/761 "2026-03-13T00:23:38Z")
What I read was that the second plane was another KC-135. An update in that article states: > [@](#): > > _ **UPDATE: 6:15 PM EDT –** _ > > _The Times of Israel_ has reported that the second aircraft involved was another KC-135. That outlet also says that the KC-135 in question was one that landed at Israel’s [Ben Gurion Airport](https://www.twz.com/air/israels-fighter-force-stands-to-be-far-more-effective-with-full-usaf-tanker-support-in-a-war-with-iran) earlier in the day after declaring an in-flight emergency. Online flight tracking data shows that tanker is a KC-135RT variant, one of a small subset of KC-135Rs that are themselves capable of being refueled in flight. This, in turn, allows them to make use of tanker support themselves to remain on station longer or to conduct longer-distance missions. You can read more about these “receiver-tankers” in this [past _TWZ_ feature](https://www.twz.com/21794/the-dark-world-of-usaf-special-ops-air-refuelers-and-their-modified-kc-135rt-tankers). So, it’s quite possible to have been a mishap during a tanking operation, even if both A/C were KC-135s (as at least one is an RT variant, capable of receiving as well as dispensing fuel). ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/762 "2026-03-13T00:47:10Z")
Crew of 6 with no parachutes on board. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/763 "2026-03-13T00:49:30Z")
Minimum crew is only three – pilot, copilot, boom operator (fuel transfer operator/loadmaster). Who do you expect the other three to be? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071.md?page=37) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071.md?page=39)