# 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:** 39
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/764 "2026-03-13T00:50:54Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > That’s why some of us think that the regime has to go. How many IDF troops will Israel send to accomplish this mission? Because it won’t happen through an air war alone. ---
**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 13, 2026, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/765 "2026-03-13T00:57:47Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > How many IDF troops will Israel send to accomplish this mission? Not sure, but I would assume some are already there, just like last time: > **[Out of the shadows: drone-op claims show Israel’s Mossad leaning in to its...](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/14/drone-op-claims-show-israel-mossad-leaning-in-to-its-legend)** > > Footage purported to show spy agents launching missiles inside Iran is marked contrast to the intelligence service’s history of secrecy ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/766 "2026-03-13T00:57:59Z")
Perhaps a relief crew for extra-long missions? Though wikipedia doesn’t mention such, just an optional navigator. ---
**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, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/767 "2026-03-13T01:02:27Z")
An additional BO and a nav. I don’t know who the 6th would be but inside info is that’s what they usually operate with in the aor. I believe the crew complement has been confirmed. I’d suspect 4 officers and 2 enlisted but we’ll see. ---
**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, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/768 "2026-03-13T01:48:04Z")
That sounds like a crew for an extremely extended station assignment. Which would make some sense to have an RT up. Receive and keep on station, switching crew as needed. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/769 "2026-03-13T06:20:41Z")
[Iranian vessel approaches USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72) and gets struck by two Hellfire missiles](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/us-navy-strikes-iranian-ship-014335571.html) > [@](#): > > A US Navy vessel shot at an Iranian naval ship after it sailed too close to the USS Abraham Lincoln [aircraft carrier](https://www.jpost.com/international/article-889183), CBS News reported on Thursday night, citing US officials briefed on the matter. > > The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity as they “were not authorized to speak publicly” about the incident, but noted that it had occured earlier this week. > > According to the officials, it is unclear which naval vessel fired on the Iranian ship, but they noted that the shots missed several times. The vessel used a Mark-45 gun. > > A helicopter equipped with Hellfire missiles was also launched, the officials said, and successfully struck the ship with two missiles. > > The status of the Iranian ship and its crew is not currently known, CBS added. That leaves me questioning if the Iranian vessel sank and if there were any survivors. [USS GERALD R. FORD (CVN-78) suffers non-combat fire.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/onboard-fire-extinguished-aircraft-carrier-152820778.html) > [@](#): > > The world’s largest aircraft carrier experienced a non-combat fire Thursday that was successfully doused, the U.S. Navy [announced](https://x.com/US5thFleet/status/2032102452145664083?s=20). > > The USS Gerald R. Ford, which is operating in the Red Sea in support of Operation Epic Fury, saw its main laundry room ignite in a non-combat-related incident. > > “There is no damage to the ship’s propulsion plant, and the aircraft carrier remains fully operational,” read a post by the Navy on X. > > Two sailors were receiving medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries, the Navy said, and were in stable condition. > > The Navy did not specify the cause of the fire but said more information would be forthcoming when available. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/770 "2026-03-13T11:45:26Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Before fighting started, the U.S. and Israel agreed to leave all naval aspects of the war to the United States, on the assumption that the American military knew far more about naval warfare than the IDF and was far more capable in that field. So… yeah. “Knowing” and “having the equipment to effectively do something useful” are two different things. > [@Alessan](#): > > But Israelis, in general, worship the United States. As far as we’re concerned, the U.S. can do no wrong. This isn’t the first time we’ve been suckered into assuming they know what they’re doing, and it won’t be the last. Regrettably, too many on the US side support Israel without question. Often for reasons that really are not a good thing for the Israelis (see Evangelical end-times fantasies). A little less uncritical acceptance on both side is, arguably, a much healthier approach for everyone - and I do mean everyone because this dysfunctional relationship is messing up things for the rest of the world right now. > [@Babale](#): > > The difference is that Iran’s regime might fall because the Straits are closed, but the rest of the world doesn’t rely on the Straits to nearly the same extent. While this is true, the point might be to cause the rest of the world as much pain as they can before the regime falls. > [@chappachula](#): > > But the link in German says that the block will be permanent because nobody has the technology to clear them. “Does not currently have the required technology” is not the same as “will never have the required technology”. There will be great incentive to come up with some way to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz. > [@CaveMike](#): > > 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. Just gas for cars and SUVs costing more in the US will exert pressure on the current administration. And that doesn’t even require foreign pressure at this point. > [@Monty](#): > > The USS Gerald R. Ford, which is operating in the Red Sea in support of Operation Epic Fury, saw its **main laundry room ignit** e in a non-combat-related incident. Somebody forgot to clean out the lint filters on the dryers? ---
**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 13, 2026, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/771 "2026-03-13T11:58:48Z")
There’s no evidence the Iranian regime is at all close to falling. This is fantasy stuff. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/772 "2026-03-13T12:16:38Z")
That article mentions Mossad assets launching some drones, nothing about Israel staging troops to establish a beachhead. ---
**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 13, 2026, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/773 "2026-03-13T12:53:52Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > That article mentions Mossad assets launching some drones, nothing about Israel staging troops to establish a beachhead …ok? Who talked about a beachhead? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/774 "2026-03-13T13:25:34Z")
I did. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/775 "2026-03-13T13:53:07Z")
Look, the International Editor at the BBC just posted an analysis that “There is no evidence the Iranian regime is crumbling.” So, if Israel and the United States hoped that the regime would go, now they have a problem, and so does the rest of the world, certainly the Middle East at least. So either they have a plan to accomplish this mission (start a civil war, maybe? Forgetting that there was a revolution in Iran _against_ U.S. and Israeli interests), or else it is time to stockpile munitions for the next Iran war in about six months. Iran itself is what is known as a pretty big country, much larger than Iraq (or Israel), and it does not seem clear that anyone is prepared to send in multiple field armies. (Perhaps someone more familiar with military science could calculate what it would take to take the Strait of Hormuz, for example?) ---
**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 13, 2026, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/776 "2026-03-13T14:05:47Z")
There’s no plan. This war was started with no mission and no plan. It boggles my mind that anyone could have any confidence in these idiots leading this dumb war. ---
**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 13, 2026, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/777 "2026-03-13T14:56:48Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > Look, the International Editor at the BBC just posted an analysis that “There is no evidence the Iranian regime is crumbling.” > **Hid topic hijacking statement. What Exit?** > > Oh, well, if the International Editor at the BBC said so, then it must be true 🙄 It’s been _13 days_. Obviously the regime hasn’t fallen yet, that’s why we are _still at war._ Meanwhile, Iran’s ballistic missiles have been ravaged to the point where launches are down to 90% of what they were, Hezbollah got their ass kicked so bad that for the first time in decades the Lebanese government is actually attempting to stop them from doing whatever the hell they want with their country, and Basij bases and checkpoints are being bombarded daily degrading the regime’s ability to respond when the Iranians do eventually take back their government. From day 1 both Israeli and American sources have been saying that this will be a prolonged engagement that will take multiple weeks if not months. But Trump spouted off about how “we’ve already won” and suddenly we assume that the war is over? That’s laughable. ---
**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 13, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/778 "2026-03-13T14:58:59Z")
I’m the sure the idiots who had no plan for the Strait of Hormuz are going to wrap this up very well. ---
**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, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/779 "2026-03-13T15:03:27Z")
How much “good news” came out of our 20 year war against the Taliban? We killed leaders, we blew up weapons, we crippled capabilities. So what? SO WHAT?! Our entire history in the middle east has been rationalized _constantly_. Oh, we couldn’t just not do anything, we couldn’t let those weapons sit there, we couldn’t let that particular leader live, we couldn’t we couldn’t we couldn’t. What we couldn’t do is make a damn difference. What we CAN do is kill children and waste money. Woopty shit. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/780 "2026-03-13T15:05:55Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Oh, well, if the International Editor at the BBC said so, then it must be true 🙄 This looks like reductio ad absurdem to me. This editor is a knowledgeable source, though of course not infallible. If said editor said so, it’s not that it must be true, but that it is likely true. Unless you have particular reason to denigrate their expertise? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/782 "2026-03-13T15:08:12Z")
**Moderating** : OK, we are not going to hijack this thread into a debate about an editor’s analysis. If you want to continue take it to another thread or start one. > **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. @Babale, this is on you also. That line had little place in this thread. Hidden. ---
**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 13, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/784 "2026-03-13T15:23:19Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > But Trump spouted off about how “we’ve already won” and suddenly we assume that the war is over? The war is about Trump’s self indulgence and nothing else, therefore it’s over when he decides it’s over; not before. Neither Israel nor Iran get a say in the matter; they are just Trump’s minion and Trump’s target, respectively. Neither have the ability to stop Trump from continuing the attack until he decides to target somebody else. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/785 "2026-03-13T15:26:13Z")
The #trump side of this war belong in one of the other 2 threads: > [@Speculation for Consequences to the US for Engaging in the Bombing of Iran and Other Targets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-for-consequences-to-the-us-for-engaging-in-the-bombing-of-iran-and-other-targets/1028210): > > If you have thoughts about what the consequences will be to the US and its citizens as a result of our bombings of Iran and other targets, this is the thread for it. > [@Speculation About Trump's Underlying Reasons for Bombing Iran and Other Targets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209): > > This thread is created for you to engage in your speculation about why the US is now engaged in a bombing campaign against Iran and other targets. This is the thread for history lessons or other more current actions that in your view, may have led to the current conflict. [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=38) [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=40)