Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Images Show Devastation at Iran Base After Blast
NY Times ^ | November 29, 2011 | WILLIAM J. BROAD

Posted on 11/29/2011 11:31:05 PM PST by neverdem

The large, deadly explosion at an Iran military base in Iran on Nov. 12, which Iranian authorities have called an accident that set back research work there by a few days, appears to have been far more devastating than their description suggested, according to an analysis of newly released commercial satellite images of the blast site.

The images reveal vast destruction and chaotic disarray across a sprawling complex composed of more than a dozen buildings and large structures.

The Institute for Science and International Security, a private group in Washington, made the satellite images public Monday, along with an analysis of the damage. “It was pretty amazing to see that the entire facility was destroyed,” Paul Brannan, the report’s author, said Tuesday in an interview. “There were only a few buildings left standing.”

It was impossible to determine from the images whether the explosion had been a simple accident or an act of sabotage.

The force of the explosion was so great that it shook windows in many surrounding towns, according to Iranian news sites and witnesses quoted at the time. But no photographs of the blast damage were released by the Iranian government, which has become increasingly sensitive about its military capabilities as tensions escalate with the West over its missile and nuclear programs.

The base, set in an isolated patch of Iranian desert ringed by a security cordon, is about 30 miles west of Tehran and three miles west of the town of Bidganeh.

The explosion is already known to have killed 17 members of the armed forces, including a founder of the country’s missile program, Gen. Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, presided over a vast state funeral for General Moghaddam and 16 other members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps two days after...

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Israel; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: dollar; economy; iran; iranexplosion; irannukes; nuclear; oil
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-65 next last

DigitalGlobe, via Institute for Science and International Security
A commercial satellite image of a military base in Iran taken after a deadly explosion.


DigitalGlobe, via Institute for Science and International Security
A commercial satellite image taken approximately two months before the explosion.

1 posted on 11/29/2011 11:31:08 PM PST by neverdem
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: neverdem

I definitely like the “after” photo more. Need some more of those around Iran!


2 posted on 11/29/2011 11:36:38 PM PST by expat1000
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

I see that six or seven building have been obliterated. Whatever caused that explosion sure did a great deal of damage.


3 posted on 11/29/2011 11:45:14 PM PST by SatinDoll (NO FOREIGN NATIONALS AS U.S.A. PRESIDENT)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

This looks like the result of several individual explosions as each building seems to have debris scattered radially.


4 posted on 11/29/2011 11:47:48 PM PST by John Valentine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Merely a guess, but I suspect Stuxnet V 2.0


5 posted on 11/29/2011 11:48:55 PM PST by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: expat1000
I definitely like the “after” photo more.

Those Israeli landscape architects can work miracles.

6 posted on 11/29/2011 11:59:41 PM PST by TChad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: D-fendr

That doesn’t seem so likely. Does Iran use SCADA for gas pipelines?

I don’t see how else this could caused by something like stuxnet.


7 posted on 11/30/2011 12:01:11 AM PST by MetaThought
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: SatinDoll

Building top left. Where event occurred. Do not check to see if wire is hot by grounding with screw driver. That is what the warning label said.


8 posted on 11/30/2011 12:02:43 AM PST by org.whodat (Just another heartless American, hated by "AMNESTY" Newt, Willard, Perry and his fellow supporters.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: TChad
you bet! :-)

Israeli secret service the Mossad linked to Iran military blast

9 posted on 11/30/2011 12:12:58 AM PST by expat1000
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

It’s purely coincidence that six or more buildings blew up simultaneously. What a bad run of luck for the Iranians...


10 posted on 11/30/2011 12:24:06 AM PST by CitizenUSA (What's special about bad? Bad is easy. Anyone can do bad. Aspire to be good!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

11 posted on 11/30/2011 12:24:22 AM PST by VeniVidiVici ("Si, se gimme!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Valentine
This looks like the result of several individual explosions as each building seems to have debris scattered radially.

That was my thought, too. It doesn't really have the look of a single, accidental explosion. If it's the work of Israel, the Iranians probably don't want to admit it, nor admit that they're powerless to retaliate in kind.

12 posted on 11/30/2011 1:00:26 AM PST by Mr Ramsbotham (Laws against sodomy are honored in the breech.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: neverdem
Well I'm impressed. If this was in fact the Israelis, either they have stealth technology or some superb new cruise missile. Good job by whomever was responsible.



13 posted on 11/30/2011 1:04:03 AM PST by ccmay (Too much Law; not enough Order.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: expat1000

Ah... Mossad....they are so efficient.....and thorough. It warms the cockels of one’s Jewish heart......


14 posted on 11/30/2011 1:16:26 AM PST by Never A Dull Moment
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: neverdem
opps! that's going to leave a mark!

And quite frankly it sure sucks to be them!

15 posted on 11/30/2011 1:22:29 AM PST by SERE_DOC (My Rice Krispies told me to stay home & clean my weapons!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: org.whodat

Yes, I noticed that building was, ahem, gone.


16 posted on 11/30/2011 1:41:11 AM PST by SatinDoll (NO FOREIGN NATIONALS AS U.S.A. PRESIDENT)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: neverdem
Gee, I wonder how many Iranian nuke scientists/technicians were killed in that blast?

(tee-hee!)

17 posted on 11/30/2011 2:14:24 AM PST by FroggyTheGremlim (Democrats: the Party of NO!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: neverdem
35°37′29.68″N 50°52′33.1″E Yep, I agree with the others that these were separate explosions originated in each of the buildings. What is most curious is the building at the upper left appears to have been totally vaporized. Maybe that was the origin and the others were secondary but being that other buildings seemingly survived intact would counter that possibility. I'll have to go along and say sabotage.
18 posted on 11/30/2011 2:30:04 AM PST by mazda77 (and I am a Native Texan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Valentine

It almost looks like on the “less damaged” buildings the debris is to the left. (Not sure if that would be west or not). Would be interesting to look at this on Google Earth to see if a missle or plane route from the right side of the photo might be logical.

Too bad with all of the accurate stuff at hand nowadays - no bomb craters nearby to give an idea if it was several warheads or not.


19 posted on 11/30/2011 2:46:38 AM PST by 21twelve
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

An explosion in one building occurred causing sympathetic explosions in other buildings. Doesn’t look like a significant setback.


20 posted on 11/30/2011 2:51:03 AM PST by fso301
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-65 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson