It'll be interesting to see who their contingency replacement is.
The incident is pretty suspicious. Of course, the Iranian regime will automatically jump to blaming Israel because that's their go-to knee jerk reaction, but in many cases, that reaction is justified. The incident happened on the border between Iran and Azerbaijan and Israel are known to have assets active there, in neighboring Armenia, and also inside Iran.
Just look at all of the targeted assassinations of senior Iranian officials and scientists involved in their nuclear program over the years and the sabotage of of their nuclear infrastructure. Every one of those hits have Israel written all over them and I'm generally good with that because nobody, apart from China, Russia, and Iran's proxies, wants a nuclear armed Iran.
Take a look at the pic of the chopper the Iranian President was riding in. It doesn't appear to be some pre-1979 Islamic Revolution relic. Yes, there were reports of bad weather in the area, but mechanical failure doesn't seem likely although anything is possible.
Every government has contingencies for events like this and the Iranian Ayatollahs won't go quietly.
Last I was aware. The Helicopters that were part of the convoy were Soviet-Era Mi-17s as the President was reportedly traveling with a large group of personnel.
Not to be contrarian, but in this photo from Reuters you can see the Russian helicopters in the background, but the helicopter in the foreground is the one identified as the one carrying the President. That helicopter appears more modern although Mil still produces the Mi-17 to this day and I'd assume the presidential helicopters would be the best in their fleet.
Again, anything is possible, but their location would be the perfect place to carry out an assassination as it's right on the border with Azerbaijan and the Armenian border is relatively close, not to mention Turkey. Lots of places to disappear to and those governments wouldn't necessarily be mounting an enthusiastic and comprehensive search for the culprits. Add in the bad weather to further conceal your escape and complicate any search efforts and the circumstances are almost perfect.
Take anything from Reuters with a grain of salt though.
Yup, Confirmed, it's a HUEY, and Hueys do not easily get taken down from Ground attacks, they are heavily armored underneath, to the point that it takes a very powerful Ground to air Missile, of which nothing has been said....
This leaves Air to Air, or Mechanic Error, or subterfuge, so now we ask, which Nation Gains the most from this attack???
It isn't America, we lost a valid Target, and lost a valid Control Point, and then, now, they will have a New guy, probably an unpredictable Individual, may possibly be a loose cannon, so, who gained???
It'll be interesting to see who their contingency replacement is.
The incident is pretty suspicious. Of course, the Iranian regime will automatically jump to blaming Israel because that's their go-to knee jerk reaction, but in many cases, that reaction is justified. The incident happened on the border between Iran and Azerbaijan and Israel are known to have assets active there, in neighboring Armenia, and also inside Iran.
Just look at all of the targeted assassinations of senior Iranian officials and scientists involved in their nuclear program over the years and the sabotage of of their nuclear infrastructure. Every one of those hits have Israel written all over them and I'm generally good with that because nobody, apart from China, Russia, and Iran's proxies, wants a nuclear armed Iran.
Take a look at the pic of the chopper the Iranian President was riding in. It doesn't appear to be some pre-1979 Islamic Revolution relic. Yes, there were reports of bad weather in the area, but mechanical failure doesn't seem likely although anything is possible.
Every government has contingencies for events like this and the Iranian Ayatollahs won't go quietly.
Last I was aware. The Helicopters that were part of the convoy were Soviet-Era Mi-17s as the President was reportedly traveling with a large group of personnel.
Not to be contrarian, but in this photo from Reuters you can see the Russian helicopters in the background, but the helicopter in the foreground is the one identified as the one carrying the President. That helicopter appears more modern although Mil still produces the Mi-17 to this day and I'd assume the presidential helicopters would be the best in their fleet.
Again, anything is possible, but their location would be the perfect place to carry out an assassination as it's right on the border with Azerbaijan and the Armenian border is relatively close, not to mention Turkey. Lots of places to disappear to and those governments wouldn't necessarily be mounting an enthusiastic and comprehensive search for the culprits. Add in the bad weather to further conceal your escape and complicate any search efforts and the circumstances are almost perfect.
Take anything from Reuters with a grain of salt though.
That's a Huey in that pic
Yup, Confirmed, it's a HUEY, and Hueys do not easily get taken down from Ground attacks, they are heavily armored underneath, to the point that it takes a very powerful Ground to air Missile, of which nothing has been said....
This leaves Air to Air, or Mechanic Error, or subterfuge, so now we ask, which Nation Gains the most from this attack???
It isn't America, we lost a valid Target, and lost a valid Control Point, and then, now, they will have a New guy, probably an unpredictable Individual, may possibly be a loose cannon, so, who gained???