re: Official US/Israel vs Iran war thread

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The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has announced the death of Officer Sorffly Davius, a Major in the U.S. Army’s 42nd Infantry Division under the New York National Guard, who the NYPD reports passed away Friday as a result of a “medical episode” while deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Epic Fury.

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A MASTERCLASS IN MILITARY INCOMPETENCE
The Starmer administration’s handling of the Iranian crisis is being whispered about in the corridors of Whitehall as a historic "cock up" of the highest order. Despite receiving a formal request from the Americans on 11 February—a full 17 days before the offensive actually commenced—the British government appears to have spent that critical window in a state of paralyzed indecision. The U.S. request was not an invitation for Britain to join the initial "decapitation strikes," but rather a plea for the Royal Navy to help shield vulnerable Gulf allies from the inevitable Iranian retaliation. Instead of stepping up to protect the 240,000 British citizens living in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the Ministry of Defence oversaw a period of baffling inaction that has left regional partners feeling utterly betrayed.

The diplomatic fallout has been described by insiders as nothing short of catastrophic, with Middle Eastern allies expressing "undiluted fury" at the lack of British support. A former minister with deep ties to Amman reports that Jordan is "fking furious," while leaders in Kuwait and the Emirates are openly questioning whose side Britain is actually on. The Cypriots are reportedly "incandescent" after learning that military assets were actually withdrawn from their vicinity just as the threat level spiked. Only this week did it emerge that HMS Dragon would finally deploy—nearly three weeks after the initial American SOS—a timeline that military experts say is far too little and far too late to restore trust.

Strategic failures have been compounded by what veteran commanders call a total lack of foresight regarding naval positioning. The only available Astute-class submarine was permitted to continue its journey toward Australia, despite having passed through the Gulf just weeks ago when it could have been held as a vital contingency. Security officials now warn that the Trump administration is viewing the UK’s "free riding" with growing contempt. There is a palpable fear in the MOD that the Americans, tired of London’s dithering, will simply cut Britain out of the loop entirely and strike a direct deal with Mauritius to secure the long-term use of Diego Garcia for future operations.

Inside the government, the situation is being described as "incoherent" and "unconscionable." By allowing the United States to utilize British bases like RAF Fairford for strikes while simultaneously refusing to participate in the missions themselves, Starmer has managed to achieve the worst of both worlds. Critics say they have invited the risk of being targeted by Tehran without the benefit of having any say in the coalition's strategic direction. One former defence chief has branded this policy "reprehensible," arguing that Britain has effectively surrendered its seat at the table in exchange for a front-row seat to its own strategic irrelevance.

The sobering reality in Whitehall is a growing sense that the UK no longer has the capacity to shape events in the Middle East. A former Downing Street adviser noted that the "intensity of Labour’s feelings" on the conflict is now matched only by their lack of influence. Allies have stopped listening because they no longer believe Britain can—or will—deliver on its security promises. As the Trump administration continues its high-tempo campaign to dismantle the IRGC, the United Kingdom finds itself sidelined, watched with suspicion by its friends and emboldened by its enemies, all due to a fortnight of inexcusable hesitation.

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Both the US and Israel have each struck 3000+ targets respectively. That's nearly 1,000 targets each day or one every two minutes on average. The coalition Air and Naval forces assembled during the Gulf War flew more than 42,000 sorties over a 43 day period averaging about the same 1,000 strikes per day.

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U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday dismissed threats from Iran's top national-security official Ali Larijani, who posted on social media earlier that Trump must "pay the price" for the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran. 

"I have no idea what he's talking about, who he is. I couldn't care less," Trump said, adding that Larijani has "already been defeated."

(Interview with CBS News)

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