Col. Jacques Baud: Iran HAMMERS Israel AND GCC Countries After US-Israel Attacks on Key Facilities

A recent US-Israeli operation, ostensibly a search and rescue mission for a downed F-15 pilot, resulted in substantial losses for the US, including HC-130J aircraft and MQ-9 drones. The sheer scale of assets deployed for one pilot, coupled with conflicting reports on the navigator's fate and disparate incident locations, raises questions about the operation's true nature and success. Colonel Baud suggests Iran may have used electronic warfare to emulate a pilot's beacon, luring US forces into an ambush, reminiscent of the failed 1980 'Operation Eagle Claw'.

Reports of one F-15E downed, two HC-130J, one AN Warthog, four Littlebirds, two Blackhawks, two C-130 Hercules, and four MQ-9 drones destroyed or damaged. Discrepancy between Yasuj and Isfahan locations for the rescue attempt. US claims of rescuing both pilots versus Iranian claims of capture or killing of the navigator.

The extensive resources committed to rescuing a single pilot underscore a fundamental asymmetry in modern warfare: the West's profound reluctance to suffer casualties. Colonel Baud argues that Western powers, fighting 'wars of choice,' are unwilling to accept fatalities, while adversaries like Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas perceive their conflicts as 'existential' and are prepared to sacrifice lives. This imbalance leads to strategic weakness for the West, as the political cost of even minor casualties can destabilize their operations.

The deployment of 'so much energy to rescue one person suggests that rescuing that person has a political significance.' (12:36) 'The West is much more reluctant to suffer casualties than those for whom this conflict are existential.' (13:10)

Colonel Baud criticizes Western political leadership, including Donald Trump and European politicians, for employing crude, inflammatory language ('crazy bastards') when addressing adversaries like Iran. He interprets this rhetoric as a sign of 'profound intellectual, moral, and overall weakness' and an inability to achieve clear success or anticipate consequences. Lacking a solid strategy, these leaders resort to escalation and threats, including potential war crimes, reflecting a 'guts reaction and not brain-driven reaction.'

Donald Trump's post threatening 'war crimes' like attacking power plants and bridges, and calling Iranians 'crazy bastards' (17:03). Baud states this language indicates 'profound intellectual, moral and I would say overall weakness of the leadership' (19:23) and 'people without any strategy, people understanding only force and blackmail' (23:33).

Iran rejects US proposals for temporary ceasefires or 'settlement deals' that do not offer permanent security guarantees. Drawing on past experiences like the US withdrawal from the JCPOA, Iran views US 'negotiations' as attempts to impose solutions rather than engage in genuine give-and-take. Iran seeks a 'decisive victory' that compels the US and Israel to commit to never attacking Iran again, with concrete safeguards. The Strait of Hormuz situation is framed as a consequence of the conflict, not its cause, used as leverage by Iran.

Foreign Minister Arachi's distinction between 'notes exchanged' and true negotiation (27:19). Iran's experience with the US withdrawing from the JCPOA (29:46). Iran's demand for a 'decisive victory' meaning a 'cessation of hostilities once for good' and 'security guarantees' (32:07).

The US has a long history of covertly destabilizing Iran, extending beyond military operations to economic warfare and supporting internal unrest. This includes imposing sanctions, arming militant groups (like the MEK, once a listed terrorist organization), training combatants in Iraqi Kurdistan to wage guerrilla warfare in northern Iran, and engineering protests. The US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent admitted creating economic conditions to trigger demonstrations, and Trump confirmed sending 'a lot of guns' to Iranian protesters via the Kurds.

Trump administration providing 'many arms to the Kurdish people at the border with Iran... to be sent to the protesters' (42:57). Scott Bessent's admission of creating economic situations to 'trigger or prompt demonstration' (49:32). Interception of 'more than 60,000 weapons' and '10,000 Starlink terminals' smuggled into Iran (45:04).