War of the Flea in the Red Sea

Robert Taber’s classic study offers insights into Ansarallah’s (Houthi’s) Red Sea campaign. Five characteristics of ‘protracted war’ apply to Yemen. ‘Popular support’ in is with Ansarallah. This is demonstrated every Friday by the millions of Yemenis that assemble after prayers to support Palestine and oppose U.S./UK airstrikes. Even Ansarallah’s civil war enemies have drifted to their camp.

Ansarallah and Royal Navy: Lesson from the Falklands War

Argentina’s sinking of HMS Sheffield in 1982 offers a lesson on how Ansarallah can defeat British aggression against the Yemeni people. Sheffield’s demise sent shockwaves through Britain. But Britain had a path to victory in the Falklands that it does not have in the Red Sea. If Ansarallah sinks a Royal Navy ship, which they can, it will likely end the British mission. It almost certainly will end Rishi Sunak’s premiership.

Russia-Iran Military Exchanges: Part 3

Iran is supplying Russia with 400 Fatih-110 and Zulfiqar missiles. Missile deliveries began in January. This is not ‘news’ because the deal has been in the offing since late 2022; and no Fatih-110 or Zulfiqar missiles have been used in Ukraine. But it has been unofficially confirmed by Iranian and Russian sources

Lebanon-Syria-Hezbollah SITREP

Iran is supplying its Khordad-15 air defense system to the Syrian and Lebanese armies. Since October 2023, Iranian cargo aircraft have been using Russia airbases in Syria. A report claims that Hezbollah sends its older weapons to Russia for the Ukraine War; while advanced Iranian weaponry is safely delivered to Hezbollah through Russian airbases in Syria.

How IRGC Defeats THAAD Interceptors

Lockheed Martin’s ‘Terminal High Altitude Area Defense’ (THAAD) is the only American system designed to intercept targets outside and inside the atmosphere. However, IRGC Aerospace demonstrated that its ‘Dezful’ medium-range ballistic missile’s MaRV is capable of maneuvering below THAAD’s ‘engagement envelope’ to reach its target.

Iran’s new ‘Azarakhsh’ Air Defense System

Iranian short-range air defense system, Azarakhsh, probably designed for export. It offer an array of electro-optical and infrared sensors, and can operate in all-weather

Can IRGC’s ‘Khaybar-Shekan’ MRBM defeat American Air Defenses?

Khaybar-Shekan is a Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM). A recent test by IRGC Aerospace suggests that the new Khaybar-Shekan’s Maneuverable Reentry Vehicle (MaRV) can perform a hard turn in preparation for a steep angle dive. Maneuverability could defeat PAC-3 interceptors.

Russia-Iran Military Exchanges: Part 2

Ukrainian intelligence claims that Iranian IRGC and Hizballah are training Russian soldiers in Syria to use combat drones. It also claims that Syrian soldiers are training to fight alongside Russian soldiers in Ukraine. Addresses the importance of Iran’s military contributions to Russia in the Ukraine War.

Russia-Iran Military Exchanges: Part 1

A new unnamed IRGC loitering munition, similar to the Russian Lancet-3M drone, has been developed. This surface-to-surface weapon loiters for targeting information and has a maximum range of 40 km. With a warhead of 6 kg, it can be used against various targets. The IRGC model uses an electric motor, akin to the Russian model.

IRGC and Shiʿa Militias in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon: ‘Why We Fight’

The essay examines the four stages of developments in the Middle East that gave rise to Shiʿa militias in Lebanon Iraq, and Syria, with support from Iran; and their ultimate goal, as expressed by Sayyid Nasrallah of Hezbollah in his famous ‘T’ hand signal (see image), which indicates that ‘Americans can leave the Mideast vertically, leave horizontally.’