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Seth Frantzman Profile picture
@sfrantzman
Aug 8, 2020 • 3 tweets • 1 min read • Read on X
Large protest today in Beirut days after explosion, many angry at government inaction, protesters targeted foreign ministry, parliament, clashed with police (dozens reported injured), abused effigies of Nasrallah, Aoun and others,

#لبنان_ينتفض
You can see it looks like it has gotten more intense and worse as day developed;
more footage;

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More from @sfrantzman

Seth Frantzman Profile picture
Jun 23
Iran's targeting of Qatar appears counter intuitive because Doha has generally been the most friendly country toward Tehran in the Gulf. Unlike the tensions that have existed between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in the past with Iran; and to a lesser extent the UAE; Doha is close to Iran. Al-Udeid US base in Qatar is also just one of MANY US bases in the Gulf; there is also the naval facility in Bahrain, and al-Dhafra in the UAE and sites in Kuwait.
However, on the other hand Iran may assume it has enough political capital built up with Doha, and also cooperation with them in the energy sector; that Iran can do this and climb down after. If Iran focused on Saudi Arabia it could harm the fragile Beijing brokered new relations with Riyadh; it if targeted the UAE this could cause a crisis; also Bahrain could lead to a crisis.
Doha is therefore the least obvious choice. Iran could have targeted Al-Asad base in Iraq, or US bases in Syria, or in the KRG or US naval ships, or many other locations. However, Tehran may have assumed Doha is a kind of safe bet. It could tell Doha before hand what it would do, then there will be a formal complaint but maybe this leads to a deal brokered by Doha and Ankara?
Read 13 tweets
Seth Frantzman Profile picture
Jun 22
What happened to the Iranian hardliners? Remember back in the era before the JCPOA and also after we were always told that it was important to "empower" the "moderates" in Iran's regime and that if we didn't do everything the regime wanted then the "hardliners" would be empowered? What happened to this fiction?
The narrative of hardliners and moderates was obviously a transparent nonsense designed to cater to the West's need to feel that it can "do X and then Iran will be happy and do Y"...it was sold to the West in a nice package and hundreds of opeds in Western media and commentators employed this paradigm to explain Iran
Notice how Iran's regime never felt it needed to "empower moderates in the US"...or that its behavior, such as attacking Saudi Arabia or Israel or other countries would "empower hardliners." Iran never had to sell itself this fiction because this was a talking point cooked up in the West, probably at a focus-group decades ago, as a way to sell the West, and especially the US, a mythical Iran policy.
Read 8 tweets
Seth Frantzman Profile picture
Jun 13
The data behind the attack according to Israeli media, around 200 warplanes using 330 munitions against 100 targets
Compare to a recent strike on the Houthis which was 20-30 warplanes and 50 munitions
The October strike was reported to include around 100 aircraft
Read 4 tweets
Seth Frantzman Profile picture
Jun 13
In February 2019 Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami, who was then the second-in-command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, claimed that if a war with Israel took place, then it "will result in Israel’s defeat within three days."
Salami made a lot of predictions. Image
As recently as a day ago he was talking about an "unprecedented" response and that Iran was ready for war...

Well... Image
Read 4 tweets
Seth Frantzman Profile picture
Jun 13
In the wake of Israel's initial strikes on Iran. What ways might Iran choose to respond. Iran is in a complex situation because it had been working toward a deal with the US, but it also has been dealing with the recent IAEA censure. Iran has to weigh whether it responds in a kind of "tit-for-tat" as it did in 2024, where it launched ballistic missiles and drones; or if it escalates, or try to find another method. Here are some ways it might respond.
Diplomatically

Iran saw the overwhelming UN vote for a ceasefire in Gaza on June 12. It may think that it can play the victim now and leverage the Israeli attacks for its benefit.

Iran has invested heavily in diplomacy in recent years. It has worked on closer ties with Russia and China. It has strong ties with Pakistan and decent ties with India. It has joined economic blocs such as BRICS and the SCO. As such Iran is well positioned to use diplomacy against Israel. Iran has better ties with the Gulf than in the past and also close ties with both Turkey and Qatar, who are US allies. Iran’s foreign minister has travelled frequently in the region and was in Oslo on June 11.
Proxies

Iran has proxies in the region such as the PMU in Iraq and the Houthis. It also has the remnants of Hezbollah and groups such as PIJ in the West Bank and Gaza. The proxies are weaker but not defeated. Iran can move missiles to the PMU in Iraq. It can use them to attack US forces or the Kurdistan region. It can use the Houthis to re-ignite attacks on ships or direct attacks on Israel. The PMU have long range drones as well.
Read 7 tweets
Seth Frantzman Profile picture
Jun 13
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz immediately declares a special state of emergency in the home front throughout the entire State of Israel:

“Following the State of Israel's preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future. Therefore, and in accordance with his authority under the Civil Defense Law, Defense Minister Israel Katz has now signed a special order, according to which a special state of emergency will be imposed in the home front throughout the entire State of Israel.”
His office said “You must obey the instructions of the Home Front Command and the authorities and remain in the protected areas.”
IDF Spokesperson:

*Changes in Home Front Command's Defense Policy:*

“Following a situation assessment, it was decided that starting today (Friday) at 3:00 AM, an immediate change will take place in the Home Front Command's defense policy.

As part of the changes, it was decided to move all regions of the country from a full activity level to a necessary activity level.

The guidelines include: a ban on educational activities, gatherings, and workplaces, with the exception of essential businesses.

The guidelines published by the Home Front Command through official distribution channels must be continued to be followed. The full guidelines will be updated on the National Emergency Portal and the Home Front Command app.“
Read 7 tweets

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