Iran has launched a swarm of slow moving drones at Israel.  It doesn't sound like any have hit yet and there's speculation that they may be using slower moving drones first and follow up with faster cruse and ballistic missile so that all of them strike simultaneously.  Drone launches were from inside Iranian.  

Israel's Netanyahu says defences are 'ready' as Iran attacks (bbc.com)

Iran has launched drone attacks at Israel, U.S. officials say (cnbc.com)

Cheers to getting back to living in those "boring" times!

Second least surprising attack of the 2020s since Russia invaded the Ukraine.

This is a key indicator that Iran has developed nukes and likely has at least one in it's possession.

Oh, BTW, ICYWW, it isn't just them.

Quote"Iran has begun an airborne attack against Israel," National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a Saturday statement. "The United States will stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran."

Unconfirmed reports of drones being engaged in Iraq & Syria.  Jordan closing airspace and stating they will shoot down drones that enter it.   

Quote from: Z.O.R.G. on April 13, 2024, 05:26:56 PMUnconfirmed reports of drones being engaged in Iraq & Syria.  Jordan closing airspace and stating they will shoot down drones that enter it. 

Iran announced they were launching ballistic missiles too. They never showed up though. It is starting to look like the Spanish Armada.

Watching the video, the laser is frying them in the air. For those that wonder, the laser is not a visible light laser, but very high energy.

Doesn't Israel have a couple (ok, probably more than a couple.) Phalanx CIWS guns as part of their anti-missile defenses?

Sounds like the attack is over.  IDF briefer said drones, cruse and ballistic missiles were all used with only 1 person injured and there are expected to recover.  

Very odd attack IMHO.  Israel had plenty of time to counter and apparently some of the drones had running lights on them.  That strikes me as "please shoot me here" for a drone at night.  I wonder if the attack was meant to be symbolic only.   If so, why waste so many (200ish at last count) drones and missiles?  

Quote from: Z.O.R.G. on April 13, 2024, 08:01:03 PMSounds like the attack is over.  IDF briefer said drones, cruse and ballistic missiles were all used with only 1 person injured and there are expected to recover. 

Very odd attack IMHO.  Israel had plenty of time to counter and apparently some of the drones had running lights on them.  That strikes me as "please shoot me here" for a drone at night.  I wonder if the attack was meant to be symbolic only.  If so, why waste so many (200ish at last count) drones and missiles? 

In a word, "Face".

The IDF wacked some of their dot mil type and blasted a purported 'embassy'.


If they didn't shoot something, they would lose face with all their proxies that Iran uses to 'die for the glory of the Greater Persian Empire" or some such....

I think they understood that had they done any real damage, they would have seen some serious fireworks hit critical targets, all over Iran.

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on April 13, 2024, 06:35:20 PMDoesn't Israel have a couple (ok, probably more than a couple.) Phalanx CIWS guns as part of their anti-missile defenses?

Yes but the lasers are the world class difference. So much more efficient, accurate and even cheaper. Resupply is a breeze, just need juice and it's always ready.


https://www.foxnews.com/world/israel-defense-iron-dome

Protests in major US cities, I'm not seeing anything from outside the US.  Folks have been stuck on the Golden Gate Bridge for 4 hours.  

QuoteProtesters in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Oakland and on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco disrupted traffic on Monday, with many criticizing Israel just hours after Iran launched a significant but ineffective aerial attack on the country.  

Pro-Palestinian protesters block traffic in major cities a day after Iran strikes Israel (washingtonexaminer.com)

These 'protests' seem to be fully coordinated.

My question, who is pulling the puppets stings?


That an extra-National source is the driver, to me, the only questions is who?

China? Russia? Iran? (very doubtful) Uncle Larry?

Quote from: Uomo Senza Nome on April 15, 2024, 01:26:24 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on April 13, 2024, 06:35:20 PMDoesn't Israel have a couple (ok, probably more than a couple.) Phalanx CIWS guns as part of their anti-missile defenses?

Yes but the lasers are the world class difference. So much more efficient, accurate and even cheaper. Resupply is a breeze, just need juice and it's always ready.


https://www.foxnews.com/world/israel-defense-iron-dome

Plus with the laser you don't have to worry about rounds accidentally dropping on residential areas.

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on April 15, 2024, 02:05:11 PM

Quote from: Uomo Senza Nome on April 15, 2024, 01:26:24 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on April 13, 2024, 06:35:20 PMDoesn't Israel have a couple (ok, probably more than a couple.) Phalanx CIWS guns as part of their anti-missile defenses?

Yes but the lasers are the world class difference. So much more efficient, accurate and even cheaper. Resupply is a breeze, just need juice and it's always ready.


https://www.foxnews.com/world/israel-defense-iron-dome

Plus with the laser you don't have to worry about rounds accidentally dropping on residential areas.

CWIS rounds have internal timers to destroy them in the air.  While there is a failure rate to such things, and the fragments are still gonna hurt if you're unlucky enough to be stuck outdoors during an alert, it does mitigate the danger quite a bit.

Early on in the deployment of these aboard USN vessels my ship had a fatal accident when our forward Phalanx automatically re-engaged the falling debris of a target drone and fired at it.  The only problem was that the USS Iwo Jima was now directly behind the falling debris and the rounds swept her bridge, killing an officer and severely wounding a petty officer.

Quote from: Z.O.R.G. on April 15, 2024, 01:41:51 PMProtests in major US cities, I'm not seeing anything from outside the US.  Folks have been stuck on the Golden Gate Bridge for 4 hours. 

QuoteProtesters in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Oakland and on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco disrupted traffic on Monday, with many criticizing Israel just hours after Iran launched a significant but ineffective aerial attack on the country.

Pro-Palestinian protesters block traffic in major cities a day after Iran strikes Israel (washingtonexaminer.com)

QuoteAt least two of those protests are associated with A15 Action, which states on its website it aims "to coordinate a multi-city economic blockade on April 15th in solidarity with Palestine."

Wouldn't this qualify as economic terrorism? With a stated purpose to disrupt the economy, this falls well outside of legal  protest


 the Geneva Centre for Security Policy defined economic terrorism in the following terms:

QuoteContrary to "economic warfare" which is undertaken by states against other states, "economic terrorism" would be undertaken by transnational or non-state actors. This could entail varied, coordinated and sophisticated or massive destabilizing actions in order to disrupt the economic and financial stability of a state, a group of states or a society (such as market oriented western societies) for ideological or religious motives. These actions, if undertaken, may be violent or not. They could have either immediate effects or carry psychological effects which in turn have economic consequences.^[1

I don't know if the US or individual states have laws for economic terrorism or there's a catch all law that would cover it.

However, it is illegal in California to intentionally block a road or bridge.  I think a bridge is worse than a road.  It's defiantly not a legal protest.  

Quote from: flybynight on April 15, 2024, 03:04:57 PM

Quote from: Z.O.R.G. on April 15, 2024, 01:41:51 PMProtests in major US cities, I'm not seeing anything from outside the US.  Folks have been stuck on the Golden Gate Bridge for 4 hours. 

QuoteProtesters in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Oakland and on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco disrupted traffic on Monday, with many criticizing Israel just hours after Iran launched a significant but ineffective aerial attack on the country.

Pro-Palestinian protesters block traffic in major cities a day after Iran strikes Israel (washingtonexaminer.com)

QuoteAt least two of those protests are associated with A15 Action, which states on its website it aims "to coordinate a multi-city economic blockade on April 15th in solidarity with Palestine."

Wouldn't this qualify as economic terrorism? With a stated purpose to disrupt the economy, this falls well outside of legal  protest


the Geneva Centre for Security Policy defined economic terrorism in the following terms:

QuoteContrary to "economic warfare" which is undertaken by states against other states, "economic terrorism" would be undertaken by transnational or non-state actors. This could entail varied, coordinated and sophisticated or massive destabilizing actions in order to disrupt the economic and financial stability of a state, a group of states or a society (such as market oriented western societies) for ideological or religious motives. These actions, if undertaken, may be violent or not. They could have either immediate effects or carry psychological effects which in turn have economic consequences.^[1

I don't know about economic terrorism but not sure if interfering with the rights of others falls under a peaceable protest.

Quote from: Uomo Senza Nome on April 15, 2024, 07:40:48 PM

Quote from: flybynight on April 15, 2024, 03:04:57 PM

Quote from: Z.O.R.G. on April 15, 2024, 01:41:51 PMProtests in major US cities, I'm not seeing anything from outside the US.  Folks have been stuck on the Golden Gate Bridge for 4 hours. 

QuoteProtesters in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Oakland and on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco disrupted traffic on Monday, with many criticizing Israel just hours after Iran launched a significant but ineffective aerial attack on the country.

Pro-Palestinian protesters block traffic in major cities a day after Iran strikes Israel (washingtonexaminer.com)

QuoteAt least two of those protests are associated with A15 Action, which states on its website it aims "to coordinate a multi-city economic blockade on April 15th in solidarity with Palestine."

Wouldn't this qualify as economic terrorism? With a stated purpose to disrupt the economy, this falls well outside of legal  protest


the Geneva Centre for Security Policy defined economic terrorism in the following terms:

QuoteContrary to "economic warfare" which is undertaken by states against other states, "economic terrorism" would be undertaken by transnational or non-state actors. This could entail varied, coordinated and sophisticated or massive destabilizing actions in order to disrupt the economic and financial stability of a state, a group of states or a society (such as market oriented western societies) for ideological or religious motives. These actions, if undertaken, may be violent or not. They could have either immediate effects or carry psychological effects which in turn have economic consequences.^[1

I don't know about economic terrorism but not sure if interfering with the rights of others falls under a peaceable protest.

Sure sounds like the definition  matches the events. 

Looks like today (4/18) the IDF/IAF is returning the 'favor' - in spades..

Will wait for dust to settle before making further comments.

Quote from: TACAIR on April 18, 2024, 09:03:05 PMLooks like today (4/18) the IDF/IAF is returning the 'favor' - in spades..

Will wait for dust to settle before making further comments.

So far it just looks like a symbolic attack designed to leave little damage and reduce the risk of further escalation.