Off The Record Podcast
Off The Record Podcast
March 3, 2026

🚨 BREAKING: Qatar Launch WAR In Iran - IRGC Running Out Of Missile Launchers - LIVE Coverage

Quick Read

Amidst escalating conflict, Qatar and Pakistan have aligned with Saudi Arabia against Iran, while the US and Israel execute 'Operation Epic Fury' to dismantle the IRGC's military and leadership, leading to widespread destruction of Iranian strategic sites.
Qatar has launched airstrikes against Iran's IRGC, marking a significant shift in regional alliances.
Pakistan has defected to Saudi Arabia's side, warning Iran and granting Saudi access to its nuclear capabilities.
US and Israeli forces are systematically destroying Iran's leadership compounds, missile infrastructure, and military bases under 'Operation Epic Fury'.

Summary

The Middle East is experiencing a rapid escalation of conflict, with Qatar launching airstrikes against Iran's IRGC and Pakistan defecting to the Saudi Arabian alliance, threatening Iran with access to nuclear capabilities. The US and Israel are conducting 'Operation Epic Fury,' a comprehensive military campaign targeting Iran's leadership, missile infrastructure, and military bases. Key Iranian sites, including the Assembly of Experts' council building, the presidential complex, and various IRGC headquarters and missile launchers, have been flattened. The IRGC is reportedly running out of missile launchers and has resorted to using civilian areas like schools and hospitals as operational bases. The US is also considering arming Kurdish and other Iranian groups to support ground operations against the IRGC. The host celebrates these developments, predicting a complete reshaping of Middle Eastern alliances with a post-IRGC Iran becoming friendly with Israel and Saudi Arabia.
This episode details a significant, multi-front military campaign against Iran, involving major regional and global powers. The reported destruction of Iranian leadership and military assets, coupled with shifting alliances, indicates a potential for a fundamental reordering of power dynamics in the Middle East. The US's 'Operation Epic Fury' objectives, if achieved, could neutralize Iran's missile capabilities and its ability to destabilize the region, with long-term implications for global energy security and geopolitical stability.

Takeaways

  • Qatar has initiated airstrikes against the IRGC in Iran, targeting multiple major sites, including ballistic missile storage facilities.
  • Pakistan has aligned with Saudi Arabia, warning the IRGC and providing Saudi Arabia access to its nuclear capabilities as part of a mutual defense agreement.
  • Israeli air forces, with over 100 fighter jets, have flattened Iran's leadership complex in Tehran, including the presidential building and Supreme National Security Council headquarters.
  • The IRGC's Assembly of Experts council, responsible for selecting the next supreme leader, was attacked during a vote count, eliminating 88 members.
  • Iran's new defense minister was eliminated just two days after his appointment.
  • The IRGC is reportedly using civilian areas like schools and hospitals as bases due to the destruction of government buildings.
  • The US has outlined 'Operation Epic Fury' with objectives to destroy Iran's missile industry, annihilate its navy, neutralize terrorist proxies, and prevent nuclear weapon acquisition.
  • US Central Command reports the IRGC is running out of ballistic missile launchers, indicating potential paralysis in the coming days.
  • The US is considering supporting armed Iranian groups, including Kurdish factions, with weapons to conduct ground operations against the IRGC.

Insights

1Qatar's Direct Military Involvement Against IRGC

Qatar, initially confused about its stance, has officially launched airstrikes against the IRGC in Iran. This follows an initial IRGC attack on Qatar, prompting retaliation. This marks a significant shift, as Qatar was previously seen as having closer ties or at least a less confrontational relationship with Iran.

The host states, 'the air strikes have now started by the state of Qatar. They hit the IRGC in Iran.' and 'Qatar and IRGC at each other's throat.'

2Pakistan's Strategic Defection to Saudi-led Alliance

Pakistan has formally warned the IRGC, aligning itself with Saudi Arabia due to a mutual defense agreement. This alliance grants Saudi Arabia potential access to Pakistan's nuclear capabilities if deemed necessary, significantly altering the regional power balance against Iran.

The host explains, 'Pakistan of all countries has now defected to the Saudi Arabia side.' and 'Pakistan has a defense pact with Saudi. ...the Kingdom of Saudi will have access to Pakistan's nuke if necessary, if needed.'

3Systematic Destruction of Iranian Leadership and Military Infrastructure

US and Israeli forces are executing 'Operation Epic Fury,' a targeted campaign to dismantle Iran's command and control. This includes the complete flattening of Iran's leadership complex in Tehran, the Assembly of Experts council during a vote, and numerous IRGC military bases, missile storage sites, and missile launchers across the country.

IDF announced hitting 'Iran's leadership complex in Thran' with '100 fighter jets... dropped over 250 bombs' on targets like the presidential building and security council headquarters (). The Assembly of Experts was hit 'during the vote count' (). CENTCOM states the IRGC is 'running out of missile launchers' ().

4IRGC's Reliance on Civilian Infrastructure for Operations

With government buildings destroyed, the IRGC has resorted to using civilian sites like schools and hospitals as operational bases. This tactic raises concerns about potential war crimes and further international condemnation.

The host notes, 'The Islamic Revolutionary Guard called government have now also officially moved into residential and also uh civilian areas. This is the foreign ministry's spokesman holding a press conference in a school.' and 'they're using the schools as a base because they don't have government buildings anymore.'

5US Strategy to Arm Iranian Ground Forces

President Trump has indicated the US is open to supporting armed individuals and groups within Iran, including Kurdish factions, with weapons. The objective is to create ground forces capable of attacking the IRGC, backed by the US and Israel, to 'finish the job.'

President Trump has now said that uh, the United States is open to supporting the armed individuals and groups in Iran and helping them with weapons against the Islamic Republic. That includes the Kurdish uh factions that are in the northwest of Iran.'

Bottom Line

The host suggests Qatar's shift away from the IRGC was a deliberate long-term strategy by President Trump, who 'befriended the Qataris' to pull them away from Iran, anticipating a future conflict.

So What?

This implies a calculated geopolitical maneuver by the US to isolate Iran before a major military operation, rather than Qatar's shift being purely opportunistic or reactive to IRGC attacks.

Impact

Understanding such long-term strategic plays could inform future diplomatic and military engagement in complex regions, highlighting the importance of pre-positioning alliances.

The host claims that the IRGC's declaration of a 'new' jihad against the US and Israel is redundant, as a jihad has been 'always ongoing' since 1979, implying a lack of awareness or strategic messaging within the Iranian regime's older leadership.

So What?

This suggests a disconnect or disorganization within the IRGC's ideological messaging, potentially indicating internal struggles or a failure to adapt its narrative to current events.

Impact

Exploiting such inconsistencies in an adversary's messaging could be a psychological warfare tactic to sow doubt and undermine their credibility among their own supporters and the international community.

Notable Moments

The host receives a live phone call from his father in Tehran, confirming his father's safety despite an IRGC base next to his house being flattened by airstrikes.

This personal interjection provides a human element to the conflict, illustrating the direct impact of the strikes on ordinary citizens, even as the host maintains a celebratory tone about the destruction of IRGC targets.

Quotes

"

"The objectives are clear: Destroy their missiles and raise their missiles uh industry to the ground. Annihilate their navy. ensure the res regime's terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces and no longer use their IEDs or roadside bombs which have gravely wounded and killed thousands and thousands of people including many Americans ensure that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon."

White House (via host)
"

"The rogue Iranian regime under the evil hand of the Ayatollah has killed and maimed thousands of US soldiers over the years. Their brutal attacks and threats will end under President Donald J. Trump. America will win. the terrorist Iranian regime will be defeated."

President Trump (via host)

Q&A

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