Alastair Crooke: Iran DESTROYS THREE F-35s as US Attacks BACKFIRE, Trump in PANIC MODE

US Strikes and Iranian Retaliation [0:00]

• The United States conducted heavier strikes on Iran, which Iran retaliated against on a Moawak al-Salti airbase in Jordan.
• Iran claimed to have destroyed three F-35 fighter jets and caused casualties among U.S. service members.
• The U.S. used HIMARS fired from Kuwait on various Iranian locations, resulting in civilian casualties.

  "The United States said they bombed Iran in a heavier manner, and Iran retaliated on a Moawak al-Salti airbase in Jordan, saying that they destroyed three F-35 fighter jets, as well as injuring and killing multiple U.S. service members who were working on those jets, repairmen, and the like."

US Strategy and Frustration [3:35]

• Donald Trump is reportedly dissatisfied with the Iran war strategy, expressing frustration and panic over limited options.
• There's a lack of clear objectives in U.S. military actions, with diverse targets that do not coordinate into a single goal.
• Militarily, the U.S. is seen as defeated, unable to achieve the desired change in Iran's posture.

  "Well, on the attacks last night, I think they reflect pretty clearly that the United States does not have a clear objective."

Saudi Oil Infrastructure Attacks [11:00]

• Attacks on Saudi Arabia's east-west pipeline and a major Aramco refinery have taken a significant amount of oil offline.
• The Houthis in Yemen may be responsible for the attack on the Red Sea pipeline, while Saudi Arabia blames Iraqi militia.
• The attack on the refinery, described as "obliterated," represents a major change in the conflict's impact.

  "what we've had and of course it's sort of disputed about who was responsible but both ends of saudi's east west pipeline have been destroyed – the one on the red sea has been completely destroyed and the one on the other side saudi arabia that linked into it the pumping station has been destroyed"

Opening New Fronts and Regional Dynamics [15:40]

• The attack on Iraqi militia prompted joint U.S.-Saudi strikes in Iraq, opening another front in the war.
• Yemen has declared war on Saudi Arabia, imposing a blockade on the Red Sea in response to a Saudi bombing of an airport.
• The Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) are described as fiercely nationalistic, not mere Iranian proxies, and have promised retaliation for the U.S.-Saudi attacks.

  "And so what that has done this attack on the hashad is open another front in the war so we already had the fronts being opened one front was the war between yemen and saudi arabia because the yemenis have said i mean say the yemenis but i should say answer allah more correctly have said we are imposing a siege for siege on saudi arabia"

Expanding Conflict Zones [25:00]

• The conflict is expanding to include Lebanon, Syria, and potentially merging with the Ukraine war.
• There are reports of Ukrainian attacks on Iranian vessels in the Caspian Sea, possibly coordinated with U.S. actions.
• Efforts are underway to link the Ukraine conflict with the war on Iran, potentially as a strategy to boost interventionist sentiment.

  "and on top of that you have another one which is in syria where trump has asked shara to intervene in lebanon maybe at the borders of lebanon there are a number of shia villages to attack those"

Market Manipulation and Escalation [33:00]

• The conflict is intertwined with market manipulation, with regular patterns of escalation and de-escalation affecting oil prices.
• Algorithms are reportedly influencing market reactions based on news headlines, potentially detached from real-world consequences.
• There is a concern that a lack of diplomatic solutions and escalating tensions could lead to a much more painful and widespread conflict.

  "and the iranians have said listen you know this has got nothing to do with the mou nothing to do with negotiations with it you you're totally doing this for manipulating markets so why should we bother"

Geopolitical Miscalculations and Future Outlook [45:00]

• Saudi Arabia's decision to strike in Iraq instead of the Houthis is seen as a miscalculation, creating new enemies.
• The potential merging of the Ukraine war with the conflict on Iran is a significant development, with implications for global stability.
• There are no easy military or diplomatic solutions available, suggesting a period of increased fragility and potential escalation.

  "so we are getting into quite deep water because the circularity everything is interlinked and everything has separate agendas so it is almost impossible to have a diplomatic solution to these things"

Broader Implications and Conclusion [55:00]

• The current situation is described as a dangerous predicament with no clear military solutions for the U.S. in either the Iran or Ukraine spheres.
• Economic consequences of blockades and midterm election concerns for Trump are factors in the escalating situation.
• The conflict is seen as potentially leading to a larger, possibly global war, with multiple actors and agendas at play.

  "the economic consequences of the blockades and homos and babal manda are knocking at the door – and the midterm elections are looking bleaker than ever for him so what is he going to do in these circumstances to try and change the whole equation"