Latest news with #F-15
Forbes
3 days ago
- General
- Forbes
What An Israeli Strike On Iran's Nuclear Sites Might Look Like
A view of an F-15 fighter jet being prepared ahead of Israeli army's attack on Iran, on October 26, ... More 2024 in Israel. (Photo by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images) Israel is reportedly planning to launch long-range strikes against Iran's nuclear program if the current nuclear talks with the United States collapse. Such a move could have grave ramifications for the stability of the region, which experienced two Iranian and Israeli attacks and counterattacks in 2024. U.S. intelligence suggests that Israel is actively preparing for a potential strike on Iranian nuclear sites amid ongoing negotiations between Tehran and the Trump administration over a new nuclear deal, CNN reported on May 20. The following day, Axios reported that any Israeli attack would not 'be a one-off, but a military campaign lasting at least a week.' Unsurprisingly, Iran condemned the possibility of an Israeli attack. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Tehran would view Washington as a 'participant' in any Israeli attack. The Trump administration and the Arab Gulf states are against any attack, favoring negotiations. President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday that he had conveyed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that an Israeli strike on Iran 'would be very inappropriate to do right now because we're very close to a solution.' Furthermore, Saudi Arabia warned Iran last month to take Trump's openness to negotiate over the issue seriously since it might avert an otherwise inevitable Israeli attack. Iran insists that a deal must preserve its right to continue uranium enrichment, the main obstacle in the way of a new deal. Whether an Israeli strike transpires in the coming days and weeks is anybody's guess. If it does, it's questionable how much damage Israel could do without direct American support. 'Any Israeli campaign on Iran without the U.S. support will face severe limitations given the long distance between the two countries, even though the IDF is known for its ingenuity and might surprise us all,' Arash Azizi, a visiting fellow at Boston U and author of 'The Shadow Commander: Soleimani, the US, and Iran's Global Ambitions,' told me. 'But even if Israel attacks with U.S. support, it can only cause so much damage,' he said. 'The work can pick up and continue. It's all about what settlement is to follow the attacks.' On October 26, 2024, Israel unleashed a large-scale wave of airstrikes against Iranian air defenses and missile production facilities without losing any aircraft. Those four hours of strikes seemingly inflicted significant damage on Iran's strategic air defenses, especially its long-range, Russian-built S-300 air defense missile systems. Israeli jets and drones used Syrian and Iraqi airspace to mount the attack, which likely included significant numbers of standoff munitions, including air-launched ballistic missiles. 'Iran's air defense will certainly be overwhelmed by a week-long Israeli campaign,' Azizi said. 'Also to the point, Iran's lack of a proper air force will limit its ability to defend the country.' Iran's air force is antiquated, consisting mainly of third- and fourth-generation F-4 Phantom and F-14 Tomcat fighters inherited from the pre-1979 regime of the American-allied Shah, as well as some Soviet-made MiG-29A Fulcrums acquired in the early 1990s. Tehran has yet to receive the fourth-generation Su-35 Flankers it ordered from Russia earlier in this decade. Conversely, Israel has a much larger and more modern air force, the only one in the region to operate the fifth-generation American F-35 Lighting II stealth strike fighter. Iran's nuclear facilities are scattered across the country. Undoubtedly, the program's two most important sites are the Natanz Enrichment Complex and the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant. 'Israel will look at all of Iran's enrichment facilities and other nuclear facilities, but the main targets are Fordow and Natanz,' Recent open-source analysis reveals that Iranian air defenses around Natanz are significantly weaker than previously expected. Nevertheless, there are likely limits to the damage that Israeli F-35I stealth jets attacking Natanz and Fordow could do to these respective sites since they are buried underground and have recently been fortified. Destroying such sites would require enormous bunker-buster munitions that Israel lacks and heavy strategic bombers, which Israel also lacks, to carry them. The U.S. Air Force's B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is currently the only aircraft certified to carry the 30,000-pound GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator. Six of these were recently deployed on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean within striking range of Iran's nuclear sites. However, they have since been withdrawn and replaced with older, non-stealthy B-52s after Trump wrapped up the U.S. air campaign against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen and pursued negotiations with Tehran. It's unclear if Israel would simply repeatedly strike Natanz and Fordow to render them at least temporarily unusable. It's conceivable it might use its F-35s to destroy any air defenses and clear a path for F-15s and F-16s to carry out bombing runs. It is also conceivable that it has an entirely different plan altogether. On September 8, 2024, Israel launched Operation Many Ways, a commando raid against an Iranian missile production facility built beneath a mountain near Masyaf in northwest Syria. Covered by airstrikes, Shaldag commandos were helicoptered to the site, which they promptly raided and destroyed with explosives planted inside that detonated as they flew away. It's unclear if Israel would attempt something similar against Natanz and Fordow, especially considering the much greater distance involved. 'I think Israel can certainly plan on commando raids in Iran,' Azizi said. 'It has a very impressive intelligence penetration in Iran, has focused on the country for decades, and carried out countless operations on Iranian soil.' 'It is likely to achieve impressive results by such measures.' Iran would undoubtedly seek retaliation for any significant Israeli strike against its nuclear program. It hasn't yet retaliated for the October 26 strikes, which were Israel's retaliation for a large-scale Iranian ballistic missile attack on Israel. 'Iran will likely retaliate by attacking Israeli soil directly and significantly,' Azizi said. 'This will be its major move.' However, it's unclear whether Tehran would risk striking American bases in the region, especially in the Gulf states with which it is currently on good terms and which refuse to allow the U.S. to use their territories for any strike against Iran. Iran previously launched a ballistic missile strike on an Iraqi airbase hosting U.S. troops in January 2020 following the assassination of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike ordered by Trump near the end of his first term. 'Whether Iran will also attack the U.S. bases or not, and whether this will be done directly or via Iraqi militia attacks with plausible deniability, depends on what kind of communication goes on between Iran and the U.S. prior to and during the attack and how much support, if any, the U.S. gives Israel in the attack on Iran,' Azizi said.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
NA panel reviews PTV performance
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting met on Thursday at PTV Headquarters under the chairmanship of MNA Pullain Baloch to discuss matters related to Pakistan Television (PTV). The committee was informed that PTV earned Rs7.5 billion in advertising revenue in FY 202324, surpassing its target of Rs6.2 billion. The revenue target for the current year is also expected to be met. Despite this, PTV continues to face financial challenges. A major portion of the Rs10 billion collected through the TV licence fee in electricity bills is reportedly used for salaries and pensions. The management attributed delays in salary payments to diverted funds for international financial obligations and the purchase of international media rights. The committee was also briefed on increased viewership resulting from programming enhancements and new on-screen talent, as well as ongoing efforts to upgrade the pension management system in collaboration with the Punjab Information Technology Board. Details of non-performing and politically appointed employees laid off during the current restructuring process were also shared. Addressing the delayed allotment of plots to journalists in Islamabad's Sectors F-14, F-15, and Bhara Kahu, the committee directed the Ministry to complete application scrutiny and resolve related grievances within two months. On the PEMRA (Amendment) Bill 2025, moved by MNA Asia Naz Tanoli, the committee reviewed the report submitted by its sub-committee headed by MNA Mehtab Akbar Rashdi. PEMRA was directed to provide its feedback on the recommendations. The committee instructed PTV, Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), and Shalimar Recording and Broadcasting Company (SRBC) to ensure disbursement of salaries and pensions to all employees before the upcoming Eid. Earlier, the committee unanimously passed a resolution praising the professionalism of Pakistan's armed forces in defending national sovereignty against Indian aggression.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Night training flights set for 104th Fighter Wing in Westfield
WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A heads up for anyone who lives near the Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, the 104th Fighter Wing is scheduled to conduct night training flights through Thursday. The night training helps pilots stay current with Air Force regulations as part of their training. During the night training maneuvers, pilots will be trained on both critical homeland defense and overseas wartime aviation skills. Westfield hosts annual Memorial Day Parade The 104th Fighter Wing has highly trained personnel that is ready to provide Air Superiority on demand anywhere with 21 assigned F-15C Eagle Aircraft. They are trained to provide 24/7 Aerospace Control Alert, providing armed F-15 fighters ready to scramble at a moment's notice to protect the northeast United States from any airborne threat, security for one-quarter of the nation's population, and over one-third of the Gross Domestic Product. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Satellite Image Shows US Air Power Buildup at Island Base Near Iran
New satellite images showed U.S. forces increasing their air power at an Indian Ocean base that could be a staging point for any attack on Iran, according to an open source intelligence analyst. Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) for comment. Ongoing activity at the Diego Garcia airbase, a strategic operating location for both the U.K. and British armies, comes amid tensions with Iran over its nuclear program. Although nuclear talks continue, President Donald Trump has threatened military action if diplomacy fails to produce a new agreement on curbs that could prevent it obtaining nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Iran has ramped up its military buildup, threatening U.S. targets in the region in the event of any attack. The U.S. Air Force has recently augmented its aerial refueling capabilities at Diego Garcia, deploying additional KC-135 Stratotankers to the strategic Indian Ocean base, according to satellite imagery shared by open-source intelligence analyst MT Anderson on X. A recent deployment of F-15 fighter jets adds to a growing U.S. military buildup at Diego Garcia, where four B-52 bombers and a contingent of six B-2 stealth bombers operate. In March, satellite imagery showed the deployment of C-17 cargo planes as well as KC-135 refueling tankers. The remote airbase, over 2,000 miles away from Iran, hosts Space Force operations and is a key port for U.S. Navy vessels, including nuclear submarines, and shelters a Sealift Command Prepositioning Ship Squadron. Tehran has yet to unveil a platform capable of reaching that range, but as a significant missile power, it continues to make strides in expanding long-range capabilities. The status of Diego Garcia has recently been in question and the subject of heated political debate with Britain signing an agreement last week to had sovereignty of the contested Chagos islands - of which it is a part - to Mauritius. Britain says that the agreement will ensure the future of the air and naval base and allow its contimued use by the United States. Commander Matthew Comer, Indo-Pacific Command spokesperson, told Newsweek earlier: "We have multi-layered defense systems on Diego Garcia that ensure the security and protection of our personnel and equipment." Beyond Iran, the continued U.S. buildup at Diego Garcia signals broader power projection with a potential view to threats in the Red Sea, activity by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen and China's growing naval reach in the Indian Ocean. Related Articles Russia Attacks Trump's Golden Dome ProjectIran Unveils Next-Level Warfare Drones Amid Tensions With Show New US Missiles Sent to China's DoorstepIran Threatens Strike on Israel as US Talks Hang in Balance 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Chinese Satellites Capture US Bombers and Jets at Island Air Base
A Chinese commercial satellite company has released an image of U.S. aircraft at the Diego Garcia air base, amid tensions between Washington and Tehran over nuclear negotiations. Newsweek has reached out to the U.S Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) for comment. New satellite imagery has confirmed the U.S. deployment of F-15 fighter jets to Diego Garcia, in addition to an increase in the number of bombers at the Indian Ocean base. Diego Garcia-roughly 2,000 miles from Iran-would serve as the military launchpad in the event of a confrontation escalated by failed nuclear diplomacy. U.S. Air Force jets at the Diego Garcia base were recently captured in a satellite image by MizarVision's Airspace service. The Chinese company bills itself as an AI-driven provider of geo-business intelligence. The image was highlighted by the open-intelligence GEOINT X account. The U.S. and Iran have bolstered military buildups as President Donald Trump threatened Iran with military action if it rejects a new nuclear deal, after unilaterally withdrawing from the 2015 accord in his first term. B-52 bombers arrived at the remote base earlier in May, joining a contingent of six B-2 stealth bombers already deployed there. Disagreement over uranium enrichment remains a key obstacle to reviving diplomacy between the longtime foes. The U.S. says it's concerned about enrichment levels capable of producing nuclear weapons while Iran claims its nuclear program is peaceful. The fidelity of Chinese commercial satellite imagery underscores Beijing's growing ability to monitor U.S. military deployments globally and in near real time, as it weighs support for Tehran's nuclear interests in the face of Western pressure. U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said: "We cannot allow even 1 percent of an enrichment capability…Everything begins from our standpoint with a deal that does not include enrichment." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, according to The Associated Press: "I have said it before, and I repeat it again: uranium enrichment in Iran will continue-with or without an agreement." China's Foreign Ministry said in April: "China appreciates Iran's commitment to not develop nuclear weapons, respects Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and supports Iran in conducting dialogue with all parties, including the United States, and in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests through consultation and negotiation." American and Iranian representatives are scheduled to meet in Rome on Friday for a fifth round of nuclear talks. Related Articles Democratic Rep.: To Safeguard America's Future, We Need To Safeguard Taiwan's | OpinionChina Censors Broadcast After News Anchor's Big MistakeUS Stealth Jet Carrier Patrols Waters Near ChinaHow China's Online Army Helped Beijing Fight US Tariff War 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
