US strikes Iran

[mjf981]

In conjunction with Israel.
Why? Starting wars has never ever ended well for the US, or for the country they are trying to 'help.'

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cn5ge95q6y7t

If true I'm not sure what the problem is.

The Qataris have their own air defence set up (including fighters), they'll be coordinating with US Forces.

They've already engaged onbound drones.

TBH I suspect Qatar are quite OK with defending their own sovereign territory using their own armed forces.

I doubt they found it that terrible a decision, they're absolutely raging at Iran. If you look at their official Ministry of Foreign Affairs account, it's not the Americans they're issueing condemnation towards.

This is an executive order that was signed last year:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/09/assuring-the-security-of-the-state-of-qatar/

This was unprecedented, and I would not be surprised if this was done in preparation for what is happening now.

Qatar had previously restricted the U.S from firing offensively against Iran from Al Udeid, but has now given permission.

The concern by Qatar is surely the potential to be dragged into this war. Just as the U.K., whilst not attacking, have now become more involved.

Up until now, hosting US bases or troops, or buying US weapons, had been seen by Gulf states as the best way to deter an attack.

Over the past few years, countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have also spent considerable diplomatic capital coming to better terms with Iran.

Gulf states have continuosly urged a diplomatic solution to questions around Iran's nuclear arsenal and wanted nothing of this war

Caught in the middle, Gulf states are now on the verge of being pulled into a conflict they say they want no part of, as well as potentially into an alliance with Israel, a country the majority have no official diplomatic relations with

Debunking the rumour if you’ve seen this in any news outlets

Germany's foreign minister has denied reports in Israel that Berlin was 'seriously considering' joining the war with Iran

It’s significantly more complex than that. For one, I truly doubt that Qatar were not aware of what was planned, or that they didn’t anticipate being dragged into it. They gave permission for the airbase in Qatar to be used for this purpose, which is something they have previously denied permission for.

In addition to the executive order, there is also this:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c75q2y92090o

and regarding Qatar and Israel - again, it’s far more complex than ‘Qatar hates Israel’. They have no formal diplomatic ties, but that does not mean there isn’t an informal one. The official position does not necessarily match the actual one.

https://www.axios.com/2025/12/07/israel-qatar-meeting-netanyahu-gaza

Fair enough. Iran will be alienating the Qataris too.

I don't imagine the Kuwaitis are best pleased either just now after a member of the navy was killed.

That and the fact they were about to bash in the brains of the downed US pilot when they thought he was Iranian!

Whilst yes it’s obvious relationships amongst countries are complex
Qatar have always wanted diplomatic discussion over Irans nuclear position

Countries are clearly being dragged into this war that they don’t agree with
even if that’s in a non combatant but defensive roll ( yes war is war but this is a US Israeli decision )

Do any of them I wonder agree with Beiruts residential districts being bombed by Israel.

More civilian deaths !

The bbc news was just arguing over this very issue which was interesting

What??
shocking !

is that in the news

The ooda (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) loop is completely screwed in this conflict, no side is acting rationally and trying to figure out relationships is extremely complex. A couple of weeks ago Saudia Arabia was bombing UAE assets over a dispute about Yemen. 7 Years ago certain countries blockaded Qatar:

"The blockade, which effectively made the GCC a dormant institution, created a zero-sum dispute that has become highly emotional. The Saudi and Emirati-imposed blockade has failed to pressure Doha into making the concessions demanded, leaving Riyadh and Abu Dhabi in a difficult position with the limits of their power on full display. Contrary to the interests of the quartet, the siege of Doha has only pushed Qatar closer to Iran with implications for the Middle East’s fluid and complicated geopolitical order.

Like Turkey, China, and Pakistan, it is undeniable that Iran has played a key role in helping Qatar maintain its independence over the past two years. Qatar has been using Iran’s airspace and shipping routes to circumvent the blockade. Between 2016 and 2017, Iranian exports to Qatar increased by 181 percent. Iranian-Qatari trade in non-oil commodities has doubled just since March. Morally and diplomatically too, the leadership in Tehran was quick to come to Qatar’s side, strongly denouncing the ATQ’s blockade of Doha from the start of the crisis."

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/iransource/gcc-dispute-pushes-iran-and-qatar-closer-but-with-caveats/

The other funny thing about the GCC Countries is that they are big sponsors of terrorism (Qatar - The Muslim Brotherhood, Saudi Arabia - Salafist groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS etc etc).

Dunno about the threat to bash over the head bit (I can imagine the scenario developing, always a risk in those circumstances and it's not that shocking given the environment but would hopefully be easily resolved ).

On the other hand there's some nice footage of a female crewmember, probably slightly dazed and in shock TBH, being thanked by a local gentleman..."thankyou for helping us" as he put it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ThatsInsane/comments/1riz44u/femalef15estrikeeaglepilotthatejectedis/

The Kutwaiti death on the Guardian live feed, from about 50 minutes ago.

There's footage on SM of the two downed pilots
Woman pilot
https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/2028511302683861388

And male pilot
https://x.com/visegrad24/status/2028436857466355803
x.com/visegrad24/status/2028339275670913063

Agree and this
is why I noted Qatars dilemma in this conflict
but others seemed to think there wasn’t one.

Qatar and the UAE are panicking and want a rapid end to the war or they will be in serious trouble.

https://m.economictimes.com/news/defence/uae-and-qatar-urge-allies-to-help-trump-find-off-ramp-on-iran/articleshow/128952548.cms

Let’s hope they succeed !!!

The UAE has requested assistance from its allies with medium-range air defense, while Qatar has asked for help to counter drone attacks — which have emerged as a greater threat than ballistic missiles — the people added. Qatar’s stocks of Patriot interceptor missiles will last four days at the current rate of use, according to an internal analysis seen by Bloomberg News.

Last four days?? That's concerning.

They haven’t been ‘dragged’ into it. They have made choices. The Gulf States do not like Iranian regime, and are actively aiding in the removal of it.

They may dislike Israel, at least officially, but that does not mean that they like Iran, or that they don’t in actual fact dislike Iran more.

See Belle post upthread

I disagree . They didn’t make the choice, Theyve had no choice.

Part of the answer to that is they need to stop what was happening early on, using Patriot against any incoming airborne threat.

They need reserve it's use for any ballistics inbound and find another way of dealing with drones.

That's another lesson from the Ukraine conflict.

If that’s what you want to believe 🤷🏻‍♀️

Oh, and yes, I did read the post. Nothing in it runs counter to what I’ve said. Qatar has had a relationship with Iran, although it had increasingly deteriorated even before this war, sure. That doesn’t mean they’re going to side with Iran now. The relationship with the U.S is more valuable, and Iran is frankly a pain in the fucking ass to have as a neighbor.

A ‘rapid end’ does not mean ‘preserving the Iranian regime’. It can mean putting pressure on Europe to join. ‘A rapid end’ can also mean carpet bombing the fuck out of them.

.A similar article in
The financial post picks up on this request and also notes

’ Since the US and Israel began striking Iran on Saturday, the conflict has widened fast — drawing in countries that say they aren’t part of it as their bases, infrastructure and citizens are exposed to retaliation.
Article content
Qatar shut down liquefied natural gas production at the world’s largest export facility after it was targeted in an Iranian drone attack, sending European gas prices surging more than 50%’.

UAE and Qatar Urge Allies to Help Trump Find Iran Off-Ramp
The United Arab Emirates and Qatar are privately lobbying allies to help them persuade President Donald Trump to reach for an off-ramp that would keep US military operations against Iran short

Do they have the ammunition to do that? And won't that significantly increase civilian casualties?