The Iran War

by Jack Strain

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  More than eight hundred Tomahawk missiles began striking targets throughout the entire nation of Iran. After the lights were shut down in Tehran, tens of thousands of citizens were awakened. Some left their homes to go into the streets to confer with neighbors, others feared what was happening and sought shelter in basements, but no one was prepared for what was about to hit them. The American Brainiac program had effectively taken control of the entire Iranian air defense system sending missiles hurtling into the air to explode harmlessly into the sky. Dozens and dozens of bright explosions lit up the skies almost as if some type of festival, but this was quickly followed by something very different.

  The first Tomahawks struck the Ministry of Intelligence and Security in downtown Tehran, immediately followed by a dozen direct strikes against the Ministry of Defense causing the center of the building to collapse on to itself. More missiles rained down and hit government buildings throughout the city; Energy, Foreign Affairs, Economy and Finance, Interior, and Petroleum - all leveled to the ground. The Headquarters of the Revolutionary Guards was obliterated by five Tomahawks. The Islamic Consultative Assembly, known as the Majlis Parliament building, a beautiful modern pyramid-shaped building, was turned into a fiery inferno after four Tomahawks crashed into it sending flames and debris flying into the air.

  Six Tomahawks struck the Sa’dabad Presidential Complex on the outskirts of Tehran, and a B-2A Spirit bomber struck moments later with a GBU-57 MOP to destroy the command and control bunker under the complex. Special targeting was also reserved for the residence of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, known as the Beit Rahbari compound or House of Leadership Building. A dozen Tomahawks struck home, half were armed with penetrating warheads while the other half were armed with three thousand pound high-explosive warheads. The destruction was absolute, but American planners added the final coup de grace with yet another strike by a B-2 bomber armed with a GBU-57 MOP to ensure the bunker complex below was also utterly destroyed.

  After more than three hundred Tomahawks reached their targets throughout the city, a full bomber squadron of American B-1B Lancers swept in from the Caspian Sea equipped with GBU-31 and GBU-38 JDAM bombs and began striking infrastructure targets all over the city. Tehran International Airport was struck by a combination of missiles and a dozen runway-penetrating bombs. Control towers, tank farms, fuel pipelines, and airplane hangars were all struck in succession. As the last American bomber passed overhead, one of the most modern airports in the Middle East was left in burning ruin.

  For thirty minutes, the American B-1 bombers roamed free above the night skies of Tehran and systematically struck high-value infrastructure targets from highway overpasses, road junctions, electric grid transmission stations, and power plants were all hit. Also, bridges were dropped throughout the city, most notably the famous Tabiat Bridge, the largest pedestrian bridge in Tehran. Every modern invention that the citizens of Tehran had long taken for granted were struck and taken from them as if a great earthquake had struck their modern city . . . well, modern no more.

  Overhead drones captured hundreds of explosions in cities throughout Iran. The five-minute montage that played on the screens would be supplemented by the far-more-detailed footage that the Wolfe administration planned on placing online. Al-Qaeda and ISIS showcased individual beheadings online to generate fear and display their power. The U.S. military was literally beheading an entire nation’s leadership and infrastructure, and the world was watching.

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  “I know what we have all just witnessed is terrible, but for too long evil men have been allowed to spread death and destruction without fear that they would ever face justice. Well, tonight we have witnessed the justice of Operation Avenging Angel. I regret, my fellow Americans, that it had to come to this. I regret every loss of life that will come out of this war, but I promise you that unlike in the past when all the sacrifice seemed to have been in vain, this true war on terror seeks nothing less than victory, and with that victory can come a true and lasting peace.

  “So, as I leave here tonight, I call on all the world’s leaders to join us in this righteous cause to first defeat this great evil and then work with us to build a better world. I pledge to the citizens of this great Republic that I shall not finish until I believe we are truly safe and secure and can say goodbye to our loved ones when they go on a plane or visit a mall or go to their place of worship without the fear they may never return. Thank you, and God Bless these United States of America. Goodnight.”

  President Wolfe began exiting the chamber to wild applause. The administration had already drawn up “declaration of war” articles that were now being circulated to key House and Senate members. The leadership of both Houses planned on beginning deliberations shortly after the president left the Capital. To say that a blanket declaration of war against both state and non-state enemies was unusual would be understated. The debate would continue into the early morning hours.

  Chapter Twenty One

  October 15th

  Deir ez-Zor Air Base, Syria

  The city of Deir ez-Zor is nestled along the banks of the Euphrates River in eastern Syria, about one hundred miles from the Iraqi border. It was the scene of vicious fighting between Syrian Government forces and ISIS for several years until early 2017 when highly trained Russian Spetnatz troops helped secure a tenuous hold by Government forces loyal to the Assad regime. The airfield on the outskirts of town was now held by a weak garrison from the Syrian 137th Republican Guard Brigade, though more like a weak battalion equipped with old and worn equipment, but strong enough to maintain order.

  It wouldn’t be enough to stop what was coming their way.

  All six Special Forces Operational Detachment Alphas - or A-teams - from Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, had been on the ground in and around the city since nightfall. Each twelve-man team of highly skilled and veteran operators moved stealthily towards their individual objectives. Three A-teams crept closer to the airport while two others were busy prepping ambush sites near the barracks and outposts of the nearby Syrian 137th Republican Guard three miles west of the airfield. The remaining A-team was busy doing recon at the edge of the city and prepared to engage any hostile Government forces or ISIS remnants which could disrupt the operation.

  Major Raul Martinez of Austin, Texas, a twelve-year veteran, was trying to remain frosty in front of his troopers but was all jazzed up. They were getting ready to do some real big time no-shit soldier stuff like in the movies, and his battalion commander had made it clear not to fuck things up. He was itching to be forward deployed with one of his teams, but he was in command and had to play quarterback.

  Glancing anxiously at his watch again, Martinez wondered how much longer. Then he heard his radio squelch, “Two One Two Actual, this is Vadar One Niner, repeat this is Vadar One Niner. Do you read? Over.”

  “Vadar One Niner, this is Two One Two Actual. Read you loud and clear.”

  “Do you have visual on targets.”

  “That’s an affirmative Vadar One Niner. There are two mobile SAMs, looks like old SA-8s, but they do not appear to be radiating. Repeat: they do not appear to be active. Vader One Niner, we have confirmation of multiple Zulu Sierra 23 gun batteries, three at the northern end and two covering the southern approaches to the airfield. What’s your ETA? Over.”

  “Vader One Niner is five minutes out, but Light Saber elements will be in range in two minutes. Begin lasing the targets and tell your teams to get their strobes out. Vader One Niner is coming in hot and about to light things up. Over.”

  “Copy that Vader One Niner. Two One Two Actual is on it. Out.”

  Whoever came up with these call signs sure has a hard-on for Star Wars.

  The lights had been turned out an hour ago, and the Syrians were clearly spooked. Martinez received the latest targeting intel moments ago, his men reported Syrians troops were manning their perimeter defenses and beginning to scramble
a motley collection of trucks and armored vehicles. He then spoke on the company-wide comms net and said, “All teams begin lasing targets and prepare for incoming friendlies. Take out any enemy mobile elements on my mark.”

  He received six separate affirmatives from his A-teams leaders. His radio came alive again, “Two One Two Actual, this is Light Saber, over. I got six birds in route to your OA and four more on the way. Do you read?”

  Martinez quickly replied, “Light Saber, that’s a rog. Two One Two Actual has set the table, targets lased, light ‘em up.”

  The six AH-64D Longbow Apache gunships were armed with eight Hellfire missiles and Hydra rockets and were racing at 150 knots from the east at 100 feet. Two elements of three helos split left and right, popped up, and began launching Hellfires from six miles out at the various targets the Special Forces were targeting. Taking aim at the rapid-firing radar-controlled ZU-23 anti-aircraft cannons, three were hit within moments. Two more were struck in the next salvo. Swinging around on either side of the airfield, all six Apaches opened up with unguided 70 mm Hydra rockets striking sandbag emplacements in and around the perimeter and then began raking terrified base personnel with their 20 mm auto-cannon.

  To the west, two of Martinez’s A-teams opened fire with small arms and light machine guns at defensive positions around the Syrian army base. Three old BMPs struck mines laid thirty minutes ago destroying two vehicles and sending burning men running into the night. Above the chaos, four more Apaches swung into action and began launching Hellfire missiles, striking barracks, warehouses, and two more ZU-23 guns were knocked out. Syrian forces started returning fire and were able to pin down three U.S. Green Berets who were caught moving to the next roving ambush site, but Hydra rockets soon knocked out the heavy fire coming their way enabling them to escape.

  Martinez determined that the AAA threat was neutralized, so he picked up the radio, “Vader One Niner, this is Two One Two Actual. Light Saber elements have cleared the airspace of target areas one and two, recommend proceed with next phase. My people are pulling back, strobes are on. Do you read?”

  “Hell yes, Two One Two Actual, Vader One Niner reads you loud and clear. We are coming in hot.”

  Before Martinez could reply, two AC-130 Spooky gunships armed with a 30 mm ATK GAU-23 five-barrel Gatling autocannon, a 40 mm Bofors cannon, and a 105 mm M102 howitzer opened up above both the airfield and military compound to devastating effect. A massive ripping sound from above and red tracer fire began striking the Syrian perimeter defenses with hundreds of rounds of ammo causing a multitude of secondary explosions as equipment and vehicles were struck. The smaller 30 mm autocannon aimed for personnel while the larger 40 mm and 105 mm guns targeted vehicle parks, ammo dumps, and suspected command posts. After three passes, Martinez’s men began reporting a mass exodus from both the airfield and army base.

  After twenty minutes, the commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment gave the order to begin the drops on the target area. Three flights each of ten C-130H transport planes began dropping to 1,500 feet and started releasing elements of the 3rd Ranger Battalion. Soon the Syrian night sky was filled with American paratroopers making the largest nighttime combat parachute drop since Operation Rhino in 2001 when Rangers seized Kandahar Airfield. This operation was three times the size, with the entire 75th Ranger Regiment making the drop.

  Within thirty minutes, all elements were on the ground. The Rangers linked up with the various A-teams spread around the target zone and already began active patrolling. Casualties were light thus far. However, two planes overshot the target zone and got mixed up with a Syrian patrol who struck the Rangers while they were descending and most vulnerable. A dozen were killed and another two dozen wounded, but the survivors were able to rally, took out the Syrian patrol, and collected their dead and wounded.

  The Apaches and AC-130 gunships flew top cover and shot up the countryside at anything that could threaten the vulnerable target zone. When it appeared that the landing was secure, Brigadier General Clem Elliot sent the signal to the overall American commander of Operation Apache Junction to begin the airlift. Two hundred miles away, above the Mediterranean Sea, more than sixty C-17 Globemaster transport planes received the same order and with Navy F-18 Super Hornets flying fighter cover began heading to the Deir ez-Zor Airfield with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 3rd Brigade.

  Over the course of the next seventy-two hours, this strategic eastern Syrian city was about to be transformed into the base of operations for the forward deployment of major elements of the U.S. Army’s XVIII Airborne Corps. Plans called for the entire 82nd Airborne Division, 75th Ranger Regiment, and 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. Additionally, the entire 5th Special Forces Group was attached and tasked with accomplishing Operation Apache Junction’s prime directive to secure any and all remaining chemical agents that could be used in further attacks and to capture and or kill Bahadur Rahimi and any and all those responsible for the Jerusalem massacre. Allah’s Avengers were hiding in the mountains and deserts along the Syrian and Iraqi border area, and the American Army was going hunting.

  Bandar Abbas Naval Base, Iran

  Loud, wailing air raid sirens were going off all over the base. Military personnel and civilians alike were running to bomb shelters, most of which dated back to the Iran-Iraq War in the 80’s. Bandar Abbas was homeport to Iran’s main fleet and shipbuilding program. Other major military installations included the naval air base, multiple missile bases including those that housed anti-ship and ballistic missiles and were home to Iran’s fleet of diesel submarines. Additionally, the Navy of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution maintained three separate nearby bases at Sirri Island, Abu Musa, and Larak Island where they were armed with sophisticated anti-ship missiles and dozens of missile and torpedo boats plus a multitude of armed speedboats, some expected to be suicidal in nature.

  The overhead lights flickered on and off again, and twin blasts sent spirals of dust settling throughout the room. A junior officer yelled out, “Sir, we are down to backup power and communication is still out fleet wide. The Americans are jamming all of our signals.” Another powerful blast shook the command bunker, built years ago during the Shah’s time and only recently renovated and updated with heavy blast doors and modern computers and comm equipment. But nothing was working.

  Admiral Omid Parsi was a hard man who detested disorder and weakness of any kind. It was his iron will that turned his small “green-water navy” into a force to be reckoned with, and it was taking every ounce of willpower to maintain his demeanor as the staff he trained so hard looked like panicked school girls.

  Finally, he had had enough and Parsi pounded his large fist on a nearby table knocking over cups of tea, and a tablet went flying to the ground. His powerful voice roared, “ENOUGH. Do you hear me? Enough! Keep your heads together, this is just the beginning. I need a situation report, and I need it now. And don’t tell me the things you don’t know, tell me what we do know. Commander Turani, begin.”

  The tall, lanky Commander looked nervously to his left and right, wishing someone else would have been asked, but Parsi was not in the mood for delay, so he began. “Admiral, as you know we draw our main power from transmission stations in the city, electric power cut out hours ago and apparently, this is the same situation countrywide. Our communications net is compromised, the land lines are down, the Ministry of Defense network’s all down, it’s a communication blackout. We have been forced to communicate in the open via cell phones, but the towers are overloaded with civilian traffic, plus we have to assume the obvious that either the Americans or the Jews are listening.

  We picked up a garbled signal of a suspected missile launch from a communication buoy launched by our Kilo-class sub, the Yunes 903 in the Gulf of Oman. We have not been able to make contact, so we have no idea if they were detected. Thirty minutes ago, the base was struck by at least one hundred missiles, we suspect American Tomahawks. For reasons unknown, our air defenses did not detect the in
coming missiles and more ominously did not detect the raid by at least two squadrons of U.S. Naval craft that struck the base twenty minutes ago. We must assume our air defense have also been compromised.”

  Pari winced at that last sentence. I told those fools in Tehran that we needed to upgrade our software after what happened to the Syrians, now my base is a burning ruin.

  “Dammit, tell me what we have lost, and what we have left to strike back.”

  Commander Turani nervously continued, “Yes sir, sorry. We sent runners out ten minutes ago and can confirm that we have taken major losses. All three Alvand-class frigates have been hit, two suffered catastrophic hits…the Sabalan and Alvand are gone, the Alborz took two direct hits on the superstructure but remains afloat and on fire. The Americans also struck the Persian Gulf, sinking it (Iran’s first indigenous built modern destroyer) at its moorings. I have also received unconfirmed reports of attacks on our missile boats at both the Kish and Qeshm naval bases plus heavy attacks on our anti-ship missile batteries in a dozen places. We have no way of knowing at this time what remains operational. We have not been able to communicate with our Revolutionary Guards brothers, but it is safe to assume they have already been hit or soon will be struck.

  Fortunately, over the past twenty-four hours, we were able to surge half of our Ghadir midget submarines and both Fateh subs. Their standing orders remain to transit to their assigned patrol areas, stay quiet, and either wait for orders or to engage enemy ships once hostilities have been confirmed. Our mobile Ghadir, Qader, and Khalij Fars anti-ship missiles have been dispersed, though many of the fixed sites have already been struck.”

  Parsi looked around the room at the dozen or so anxious and angry faces looking at him. Many of the men had families in town and were struggling to maintain their duty even while numerous fires were raging in the city. Parsi knew his men were waiting for orders, so he spoke directly, but with less anger than before, “Brothers, the infidels have hurt us badly, but we are not defeated. We will strike back with the powerful weapons we still possess and turn the Gulf into a sea of fire. Send out men to reach our brothers and tell them to wait until I give the word. We will strike them in one massive attack at a time of our choosing.”