The War on Iran

[Sean Osborne]

The War on Iran

by Sean Osborne



06 December 2011: The battlefield has been prepared and the war on Iran is on. November 12, 2011 is the day I believe this war transitioned from a covert action cyberwar (Stuxnet, Duqu trojans) to an overt action conventional war, which itself is an escalation in real kinetic terms, in a final attempt to preempt a regional unconventional war featuring missile-borne weapons of mass destruction.

November 12 was the day when, as seen in the image above, two United States Navy Nimitz-class nuclear-armed super-carriers, USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) steamed in unprecedented fashion side-by-side into the Strait of Hormuz choke-point at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. American aircraft carriers have transited the Strait of Hormuz hundreds of times over the past 32 years, but never in such a bristling array as this. The message to Tehran and Qom was unambiguous as unambiguous gets.

November 12 was also the day that a massive explosion all but destroyed the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps solid-fuel missile production and testing complex at Al-Ghadeer. The Institute for Science and International Security posted a .pdf report on its website on 28 November that included before and after satellite imagery detailing the near leveling of the base and explaining why the funeral of the IRGC's missile chief, Major General Hassan Moghaddam and 36 other IRGC officers, was conducted in a closed casket procession. So powerful was the detonation that those caskets might well have been empty and of symbolic value only. Many of the production and testing buildings on the base were simply vaporized.

Another explosion at an IRGC weapons depot on the same day, and not far away, also caused massive damage and death to the IRGC missile corps. Recall that a similar explosion occurred at the IRGC's Imam Ali Air Base Shahab-3 missile storage site in Lorestan Province a year earlier. And ten days later a secret weapons depot jointly run by the IRGC and Hezbollah in an area allegedly under the control of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was blown up not far from the coastal city of Tyre. That weapons depot was clearly in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, but, as usual, nary a word has been said about that minor detail.

Since November 12th the Iranian government has dispatched its Basij street thug militia, the same militia which beat down, imprisoned and murdered hundreds of Iranian student protestors not so long ago, to ransack and burn the Embassy of the United Kingdom and its diplomatic residences. Ambassadors were recalled, staff was sent home, offices were shuttered, you know, all the things that happen as war a between the countries is erupting. Christians who know their Bible should also realize how prophetic all of this is.

[mattfivefour]

Excellent material, Sean!

I am watching that part of the world with great interest. What a time we live in!!!

[LivnForChrist]

Excellent material, Sean!

I am watching that part of the world with great interest. What a time we live in!!!

[Chris]

Very interesting report. I didn't realize that the missile guy and his groupies were vaporized or might have been. I think things are heading toward a climax in the region. If war doesn't erupt soon I will be surprised.

[Sean Osborne]

I am convinced from analysis of the overhead reconnaissance imagery that the IRGCs Al-Ghadeer base experienced a primary detonation which was followed by a series of secondaries that all but leveled the place. The Al-Ghadeer base manufactured the missile fuselages. The other nearby IRGC base, Modarres, (both are located near the Tehran suburb of Bid Ghaneh), experienced a simultaneous detonation which did grave damage also, manufactured the missile warheads and was the site of the service school for IRGC missile corps.

[WKUHilltopper]

I am convinced from analysis of the overhead reconnaissance imagery that the IRGCs Al-Ghadeer base experienced a primary detonation which was followed by a series of secondaries that all but leveled the place. The Al-Ghadeer base manufactured the missile fuselages. The other nearby IRGC base, Modarres, (both are located near the Tehran suburb of Bid Ghaneh), experienced a simultaneous detonation which did grave damage also, manufactured the missile warheads and was the site of the service school for IRGC missile corps.

Based on the pics I saw, it had to be cruise type missiles. I've read other articles about supposed computer viruses, but I think that's fantasy. Regardless--it is obvious, to me, what happened and yet no response or reaction from Iran or Russia either. All mouth and no play.

[Sean Osborne]

Based on the pics I saw, it had to be cruise type missiles.

Your scale of reference is a bit on the small side Hilltopper.

Look at the upper right hand corner of either image (better resolution in the .pdf version) - see the (minimum size) 100 yard long by 60 yard wide soccer field amongst the trees? That's the scale reference for everything else in the before and after images.

Those buildings were actually aviation-style hangers of immense size - at least 54,000 square feet each. There were four of them. The others were slightly smaller at about 45,000 square feet each.

The Al-Ghadeer base was suspected of being a Shahab-3 or Shahab-5/6 missile fuselage production facility. The Shahab-5/6 is most likely the source of the primary detonation as the highly volatile liquid/solid fuel mix was designed for the missile to achieve a 330 second burn in order to achieve a suborbital velocity. An uncontrolled burn (detonation) likely resulted in the secondary detonations which nearly wiped the base slick. Craters from the explosions are clearly visible.

Al Ghadeer was an Iranian ICBM factory. There's a lot of other neato stuff to be seen in both of those images.

[WKUHilltopper]

Your scale of reference is a bit on the small side Hilltopper.

Look at the upper right hand corner of either image (better resolution in the .pdf version) - see the (minimum size) 100 yard long by 60 yard wide soccer field amongst the trees? That's the scale reference for everything else in the before and after images.

Ahh, yes. I can see the difference now and the better resolution helps.

[This]

Kislev 24 = December 20, 2011

Does it not seem that everything is in place for something big to happen and soon in terms of potential Middle East conflicts? Why not on this day? Why this day in specific? Check out the following verses from Haggai 2:15-23 (emphasis mine):

"And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD: Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty. I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD. Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid, consider it. Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you. And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying, Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth; And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother. In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts."

The verses warn the reader to take special note of Kislev 24. Indeed, God tells us not once, but twice, to consider Kislev 24 as something to watch out for! God repeating Himself that we should watch something is quite rare indeed and I believe we should take note because of it. Notice that the wrath outlined in these verses seem quite similar indeed to what will happen to the coalition as described in even more detail in Ezekiel 38 & 39. Could this be hinting that something big will happen on Kislev 24 (December 20th) that could escalate rapidly towards the start of WWIII?

Yes, I realize that these verses could be referring to ANY Kislev 24, either in past years, this year or future years. Nonetheless, the pieces of the puzzle certainly seem to be in place NOW for a massive outbreak in this always volatile region. As such, I personally will be watching this particular day with considerable interest. Perhaps it will be the long awaited Psalm 83 / Isaiah 17 battle paving the way towards the battle of Ezekiel 38 / 39? We'll soon see!!

By the way, I am hoping that Kislev 24 "and upward" has dual meanings for December 20, 2011 (IF this is the year). Upward, as in that date and forward, BUT ALSO upward, as in FLYING UPWARD!!

On a side note, Kislev 24 is also the first day of Hanukkah. Hanukkah, the eighth feast, was unexpectedly added, just like the Church was. This would certainly be a nice day to be taken home!!

MARANATHA!!

[Everlasting Life]

Wow....those buildings got DE...MOL....ISHED!!

[SteveJM]

Great report, Sean!

[mattfivefour]

Kislev 24 = December 20, 2011

Does it not seem that everything is in place for something big to happen and soon in terms of potential Middle East conflicts? Why not on this day? Why this day in specific? Check out the following verses from Haggai 2:15-23 (emphasis mine):

"And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD: Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty. I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD. Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid, consider it. Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you. And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying, Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth; And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother. In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts."

The verses warn the reader to take special note of Kislev 24. Indeed, God tells us not once, but twice, to consider Kislev 24 as something to watch out for! God repeating Himself that we should watch something is quite rare indeed and I believe we should take note because of it. Notice that the wrath outlined in these verses seem quite similar indeed to what will happen to the coalition as described in even more detail in Ezekiel 38 & 39. Could this be hinting that something big will happen on Kislev 24 (December 20th) that could escalate rapidly towards the start of WWIII?

Yes, I realize that these verses could be referring to ANY Kislev 24, either in past years, this year or future years. Nonetheless, the pieces of the puzzle certainly seem to be in place NOW for a massive outbreak in this always volatile region. As such, I personally will be watching this particular day with considerable interest. Perhaps it will be the long awaited Psalm 83 / Isaiah 17 battle paving the way towards the battle of Ezekiel 38 / 39? We'll soon see!!

By the way, I am hoping that Kislev 24 "and upward" has dual meanings for December 20, 2011 (IF this is the year). Upward, as in that date and forward, BUT ALSO upward, as in FLYING UPWARD!!

On a side note, Kislev 24 is also the first day of Hanukkah. Hanukkah, the eighth feast, was unexpectedly added, just like the Church was. This would certainly be a nice day to be taken home!!

MARANATHA!!

Respectfully, bro, your exegesis is faulty because you have failed to discern the two separate parts you have lumped into one. If you read Haggai 2 carefully you will see that the Lord does NOT tell Israel to take special note of Kislev 24. Please look at the divisions of God's Word to His people. In Haggai 2:10-19, the Lord—after telling Israel that when His house stood in disrepair while they looked after their own desires they went without, the labor of their hands being diminished and not increased—He then points out that since Israel began rebuilding His Temple on the 24 Kislev, they have not suffered any loss and He has faithfully provided all they needed. This message is to the faithfulness of God and that it behooves His people to likewise be faithful to Him if they desire His blessings. Thus this part of Haggai 2 has absolutely nothing to do with an end times prophecy. Kislev is merely a reference to when they began restoring the Temple. And only that.

Haggai 2:20-23, however IS an end times prophecy, but it has nothing to do with the previous section, a fact that is made clear by its introductory words: "Then the word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month ..." (Haggai 2:20a) The content of the previous verses (10-19) was given on the 21st of Tishri (Haggai 2:1) while the content of verses 20-23 were given on the 24th of Tishri. These are two separate messages from the Lord and are not related to one another, other than as a continuation of God expressing His plans for Israel.

Sorry, bro.

[notdecieved]

Great article Sean.
Hearing about the 2 explosions in Iran at their nuclear
sites makes me think of these 2 verses and especially
the part that I boldened and with the New Living
Translation Bible, the specific wording.

Zechariah 12:2-3
New Living Translation (NLT)

2 I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that makes the nearby nations stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah. 3 On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves.

[Sean Osborne]

That's right notdeceived, they will only hurt themselves.

I also believe that we are witnessing the beginning of the fulfillment of Jeremiah 49:34-39, these verses particularly:

‘ Behold, I will break the bow of Elam,
The foremost of their might.
Against Elam I will bring the four winds
From the four quarters of heaven,
And scatter them toward all those winds;
There shall be no nations where the outcasts of Elam will not go.
For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies
And before those who seek their life.
I will bring disaster upon them,
My fierce anger,’ says the LORD;

‘ And I will send the sword after them
Until I have consumed them.
I will set My throne in Elam,
And will destroy from there the king and the princes,’ says the LORD.
‘ But it shall come to pass in the latter days:
I will bring back the captives of Elam,’ says the LORD.”

[WKUHilltopper]

[micah719]

Zec 12:1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
Zec 12:2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
Zec 12:3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.


Zec 14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
Zec 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Zec 14:3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

Either I've confused two different events, or those nations do indeed hurt more than just themselves.

---

Sean, how would the Jeremiah prophecy about Elam tie in with the 40 years for egypt?

Eze 29:12 And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.

[paul&katie]

Satellite Images Suggest Something Happened At Iranian Nuclear Facility -- But Was It An Explosion? | Fox News

more at link...

Iranian officials have issued conflicting comments about the blast, which, if it occurred at the uranium conversion facility, could be very damaging to the nation’s nuclear program.

A report of the explosion was first mentioned in the semi-official Fars News website. Then the report was removed. Then it was finally described as an explosion deriving from a military exercise by Isfahan’s governor, Alireza Zaker-Isfahani.

Israeli sources have suggested that the blast occurred at the nuclear facility; Iran, in turn, has denied that any sort of blast happened there.

But others find Iran’s denials suspicious, given that there have been numerous acts of sabotage against its nuclear and military sites and scientists in the last few years. Just last month, an explosion occurred at a sensitive missile site, killing 20 people, including the father of Iran’s Shahab 3 missile. It is not clear what caused that blast, or whether it was accidental, but many believe it was no coincidence.

ISIS analysts who looked at the images from Isfahan said there had been a dramatic change in the landscape around a tunnel leading down to a storage facility on the periphery of the uranium conversion site. Several structures above that storage facility, which had been there for 15 years and stood intact as recently as August, are gone. There now is evidence of bulldozing around the old structures.

It is not clear what is stored in that facility, which used to be a salt mine, or whether the underground storage was damaged. But Iran has been known to store UF6 underground, ISIS says, so it is possible that converted yellowcake was in that facility. According to ISIS, there is no evidence of an explosion, but there wouldn’t be clear evidence several days after an event.

“After five to seven days, that’s what you would be looking at anyway — clean-up,” ISIS senior analyst Paul Brannan told Fox News.

“The pictures we have seen were dramatic insofar as the buildings were there for at least 15 years,” he said. “On Dec. 5, they were gone. Whether or not that is circumstantial is not clear, but it warrants further scrutiny.”

Brannan says much of Iran’s yellowcake has been converted to UF6, but the Iranians still have some stock. Beyond that, however, the nation’s ability to mine and mill yellowcake is limited.

“There is something strange going on,” he said. “It is not clear what it is. There was the recent blast at the missile facility with people killed. There was a report of a blast at Isfahan’s uranium conversion site. A U.S. drone has been downed.

“Something is going on. It’s not clear what it is.”