West Asia News and Discussions

hnair · Post by **hnair** » 09 Jan 2020 19:27

habal, OT - you bought India into this discussion and I tried to explain. My mistake. Take Indian diplomat incident etc to the appropriate thread

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 09 Jan 2020 19:30

Surprising push back from ppl hu r usually in the frontlines of pushing young people to get maimed in faraway lands fighting for Texaco. I wonder about that sudden attack of honesty, but put it down to CNN and donkeystan being caught between conflicting interests.
On the one hand they were caught demanding de-escalation to be anti-Trump when Trump was escalating.
Now that Trump de-escalated and did the equilvalent of letting the rope out of his hand in a tug-of-war (causing even Dianne F to land on her musharraf) and elephants started crowing about statesmanship, they have to attack on something.
Tough times...

habal · Post by **habal** » 09 Jan 2020 19:34

https://www.fort-russ.com/2020/01/u-s-a ... qi-border/

U.S Army Begins Evacuation Of Syrian Base On Iraqi Border

“U.S. occupation troops positioned in the base of Khrab al-Jir have started to completely evacuate the base. + …sources in the southern countryside of Hasaka city said that 50 trucks carrying military and logistic equipment belonging to the U.S. occupation troops have leaved their illegitimate base in al-Shadadi city, and they headed north through the eastern road which leads to al-Houl area”

Lohit · Post by **Lohit** » 09 Jan 2020 20:12

Atmavik wrote:
Lohit wrote:Some points that Trump made and some conjecture of my own (in increasing order of conjecture),

Lohit, quality post. allow me to probe further

Thanks chief. On your points,

1. Chinas massive anticipatory naval build up - Agree, in fact I recall having read on BRF quite some time back that Khan and Chin are actually in cahoots and have an understanding on this.

Japan with its demographics and depleted mil forces/infra will surely be in deep peril. It might reap the karma it earned under Tojo. Australia will soon be part of Pax Sina.

2. Emerging super states - Indeed Germany seems to be late in the game like last time. And agree that Russia and Turkey will be regional supwrstates with low global force projections. Ultimately I see these latter two super states aligned in a Sino axis, faced with a Euro-Arab super axis.

habal · Post by **habal** » 09 Jan 2020 21:13

Someone on this thread said a few posts ago that US would light a match and set region afire and not allow Russia or China a sniff before leaving the region.

I wager this is exactly what we are seeing.

I believe he was assassinated to open up the chance for the US to retreat from Syria-Iraq-Kuwait, which serves Iran nicely, as well as Russia & China.”

Russia, China & Iran will exercise maximum restraint while this happens while US will try as many disruptive and destructive acts as possible. Next US action may come as soon as next month in yemen or syria. After which Trump will again go berserk on how he is 'winning' and "all is well".

Deans · Post by **Deans** » 09 Jan 2020 21:17

Aditya_V wrote: Not really, if you hit anything and god forbid American lives were lost, the regime and some family members could have lost lives. At the same time- the regime can't tell that to the Domestic AUdience, they needed those pics of a large number of missiles taking off, and they are informed there 80 dead American soldiers.

So Trump knows- no American dead -ok
Domestic Audience in Iran -80 American Soldiers are dead -ok.

So they have satisfied both the US and domestic audience. I dont think after the expensive IRaq experience- US wants to get in to Iran with a hostile population.

I would tend to believe the US version (not Trump's) when it comes to their own casualties, because their society is a lot more open than Iran's - Both in terms of multiple people having access to info and people expressing dissenting opinions. I don't think any US administration would lie to their people about their casualties.

habal · Post by **habal** » 09 Jan 2020 21:25

the US Ain Al-Asad airbase seems to have an air defense system

habal · Post by **habal** » 09 Jan 2020 21:30

Iraq & Middle East Updates
@IraqLiveUpdate
·
3h
Iraq National Security Advisor Fayadh: #QassemSoleimani sacrificed a lot for #Iraq and we apologise for our slain guest who was killed treacherously by the wicked hands of evil

habal · Post by **habal** » 09 Jan 2020 21:38

U.S. contractor killed in Iraq, Nawres Hamid, which led to strike on Iranian general, buried in Sacramento

https://amp.sacbee.com/news/local/article239053173.html?

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 09 Jan 2020 22:05

Atmavik and Lohith
Please discuss in geopolitical thread.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 09 Jan 2020 22:06

Habal and HNair please take non germane discussion to the appropriate thread. And delete from here.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 10 Jan 2020 02:05

‘Illogical rumors’: Iran responds to US media reports that Ukrainian Boeing was hit by missile over Tehran

9 Jan, 2020 17:48 / Updated 1 hour ago
Iranian civil aviation authorities rejected as 'scientifically impossible' the media reports that the Ukrainian passenger jet departing Tehran was shot down by a missile, and called the scenario 'illogical rumors'.
"Scientifically, it is impossible that a missile hit the Ukrainian plane, and such rumours are illogical," Ali Abedzadeh, head of Iran's of Civil Aviation Organization, said on Thursday, according to the news agency ISNA.
Citing anonymous Pentagon and intelligence officials, US media have reported that the Boeing 737 was “highly likely” brought down by Iranian air defenses. The Ukrainian International Airlines flight 752 crashed within minutes of departing Tehran, just hours after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired two volleys of {perfectly aimed} missiles at US targets inside Iraq, as reprisal for last week’s assassination of General Qassem Soleimani.

{There is no truth to the rumor that one of the Djinn Fatwa Model 666 mijjiles had decided to return to Tehran and was coming for landing on the opposite flight path.}

Sorry. One hundred and seventy-six innocents are dead. Their loved ones shattered.
The thing is this. Put together the terms: Civilian Airliner. SAM. False-flag. UKRAINE.

anmol · Post by **anmol** » 10 Jan 2020 02:31

Ian Miles Cheong
?Verified account @stillgray

Here we go. Video footage of an Iranian Tor M1 missile bringing down the 737-800, Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS752. This certainly contradicts Iran's "engine failure" narrative.
https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1215341606095638529

The New York Times
@nytimes
Exclusive: Video verified by The New York Times shows a Ukrainian airliner being hit over Tehran on Wednesday

@nytimes 14m
Replying to
@nytimes
To analyze the video, we confirmed it was filmed near the plane's flight path from Tehran. It shows an explosion when a missile hit the plane, but the plane did not explode: It continued flying for several minutes and turned back toward the airport.

Y. Kanan · Post by **Y. Kanan** » 10 Jan 2020 02:35

Post edited.

Moderator note: Please don't bring Indian leaders into an emotive discussion about US-Iran actions.

First, comparing Indian leaders to Gen Soleimani is not warranted. It is absurd to make these comparisons.
Second, India is not Iran, irrespective of what you may think.
Third, please don't make ridiculous assertions about national character as they are neither warranted nor accurate.

Both countries in question chose to trade blows in a manner they both knew the consequences of, and you want us to take sides and are cursing India for being more measured and analytical than you give it credit for.

anmol · Post by **anmol** » 10 Jan 2020 02:43

History of US-Iran Conflict Explained

mmasand · Post by **mmasand** » 10 Jan 2020 03:22

Trudeau has confirmed they have strong evidence to believe the aircraft was shot by SAM's. Pentagon leaking info to media that their satellites had seen two blips along the flight path.

brar_w · Post by **brar_w** » 10 Jan 2020 03:32

mmasand wrote:Trudeau has confirmed they have strong evidence to believe the aircraft was shot by SAM's. Pentagon leaking info to media that their satellites had seen two blips along the flight path.

Not just two blips..they have claimed to have generated and analyzed both IR tracks of launch and explosion of the SAM and the RF profile of the Air Defense radar used for targeting. The overall analysis when combined with other information (known AD in the areas etc etc.) allowed them to narrow down on the SA-15. US troops had been on high alert in the days leading up to the attack (this was covered in the media quite a bit) so you could rest assured that whatever known and classified assets they had in the region, or space-capability, would have been watching Iranian Air-Defense movements.

mahadevbhu · Post by **mahadevbhu** » 10 Jan 2020 04:03

This can be done for the Mig21/F16 also?

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 10 Jan 2020 04:46

Y. Kanan wrote:Iran held candlelight vigils for America after 9/11; they eagerly offered to help defeat the Taliban in the coming American counterattack; in 1998 Iran almost invaded Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban and were forced to back off by, you guessed it, the United States. America backs Saudi to the hilt; the same Saudi behind most of our terrorist woes in one form or another since as long as any of us can remember.
General Solemaini, hero of the struggle against US\Saudi\Jew backed ISIS, a group of the same ideological bent as our enemy Pakistan and the myriad anti-India terrorists it supports. All this is known and established fact, and yet most of you have little problem with this Iran spectacle and the US unleashing drone assassinations on military and government officials. Do you understand you're cheering for the destruction of people that were on our side (more or less), and do you really understand that it could have been Mohan Bhagwat or N. Modi or General Naravane... or anyone some future US govt decides to get rid of. This does not concern anyone?
Perhaps I'm badly misreading our national character. Apparently most see this horrific injustice and bullying and simply say All is Well. Convince me why I shouldn't care.

Gentle pooch: If, say, u were to get hold of a document painstakingly documenting the news reports that you mention above, would you dare spread it around in public today?

Peregrine · Post by **Peregrine** » 10 Jan 2020 05:10

Ukraine airliner accidentally downed by Iran: US officials – Reuters

WASHINGTON: A Ukraine airliner that crashed in Iran, killing all 176 people aboard, was most likely brought down accidentally by Iranian air defenses, US officials said on Thursday, as President Donald Trump said he had a terrible feeling about the disaster.

One US official said US satellites had detected the launch of two missiles shortly before the plane crashed, followed by evidence of an explosion. Two officials said Washington believed the downing of the plane was accidental.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said the crash could have been a mistake, adding he had a terrible feeling about the downed airliner but offering no evidence. "Somebody could have made a mistake," Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that he had suspicions about the crash but giving no other details. Ukraine, meanwhile, outlined four potential scenarios to explain the crash, including a missile strike and terrorism, as Iranian investigators said the plane was on fire before it fell to the ground.

Kiev said its investigators wanted to search the site of Wednesday's crash southwest of Tehran for possible debris of a Russian-made missile used by Iran's military. An initial report by Iran's civil aviation organisation said the plane had experienced an unspecified technical problem.

The Ukrainian International Airlines Boeing 737-800, flying to Kiev and carrying mostly Iranians and Iranian-Canadians, crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport, killing all 176 people on board.

The Iranian report cited witnesses on the ground and in a passing aircraft flying at a high altitude as saying the plane was on fire while in the air. It said the three-year-old airliner, which had its last scheduled maintenance on Monday, encountered a technical problem shortly after take-off and started to head toward a nearby airport before it crashed. The report said there was no radio communication from the pilot and that the aircraft disappeared from radar at 8,000 feet (2,440 m).

The disaster puts a renewed spotlight on Boeing, which faces a safety crisis over a different type of 737, though the plane that crashed in Iran does not have the feature thought to have caused crashes of the grounded 737 MAX.

The Iranian report referred to the crash as an accident. Investigations into airliner crashes are complex, requiring regulators, experts and companies across several international jurisdictions to work together. It can take months to fully determine the cause and issuing an initial report within 24 hours is rare.

The crash happened hours after Iran launched missile attacks on US-led forces in Iraq, leading some to speculate that the plane may have been hit.

Canadian foreign minister Francois-Philippe Champagne called his Iranian counterpart to stress the need for Canadian officials "to be quickly granted access to Iran to provide consular services, help with identification of the deceased and take part in the investigation of the crash", a Canadian statement said.

"Canada and Canadians have many questions which will need to be answered."

Britain wanted a transparent investigation, PM Boris Johnson's spokesman said following a call between the British leader and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have risen with the United States' killing of top Iranian general Qassim Suleimani on Friday. Tehran retaliated with a missile strike on US targets in Iraq. The Ukrainian airliner took off at 6.12am local time crashed six minutes later near the town of Sabashahr.

Cheers

mmasand · Post by **mmasand** » 10 Jan 2020 05:21

brar_w wrote:
mmasand wrote:Trudeau has confirmed they have strong evidence to believe the aircraft was shot by SAM's. Pentagon leaking info to media that their satellites had seen two blips along the flight path.
Not just two blips..they have claimed to have generated and analyzed both IR tracks of launch and explosion of the SAM and the RF profile of the Air Defense radar used for targeting. The overall analysis when combined with other information (known AD in the areas etc etc.) allowed them to narrow down on the SA-15. US troops had been on high alert in the days leading up to the attack (this was covered in the media quite a bit) so you could rest assured that whatever known and classified assets they had in the region, or space-capability, would have been watching Iranian Air-Defense movements.

Not the right thread, but a contractor on a base somewhere in the GCC I was in touch with mentioned that the Yanks were stretched as far as assets in the region were concerned. They didn't have any immediately available Patriot missile battery in Iraq since it was moved elsewhere.

brar_w · Post by **brar_w** » 10 Jan 2020 05:42

mmasand wrote:
brar_w wrote:
Not just two blips..they have claimed to have generated and analyzed both IR tracks of launch and explosion of the SAM and the RF profile of the Air Defense radar used for targeting. The overall analysis when combined with other information (known AD in the areas etc etc.) allowed them to narrow down on the SA-15. US troops had been on high alert in the days leading up to the attack (this was covered in the media quite a bit) so you could rest assured that whatever known and classified assets they had in the region, or space-capability, would have been watching Iranian Air-Defense movements.
Not the right thread, but a contractor on a base somewhere in the GCC I was in touch with mentioned that the Yanks were stretched as far as assets in the region were concerned. They didn't have any immediately available Patriot missile battery in Iraq since it was moved elsewhere.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7088&p=2406144#p2406144

g.sarkar · Post by **g.sarkar** » 10 Jan 2020 07:20

https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/r ... 2020-01-09
Risky Gulf Arab strategy tested by killing of Iran general Soleimani
Even as Gulf Arab states like Israel lobbied hard for tough US sanctions and maximum pressure on Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have wanted to avoid outright war.
Associated Press, Dubai, January 9, 2020
US allies in the Persian Gulf have loudly pushed for hawkish policies by Washington to pressure, isolate and cripple Iran, but this high-stakes strategy is now being put to the test by the unexpected US strike that killed Iran’s most powerful military commander last week, thrusting the region closer to full-blown conflict. Even as Gulf Arab states like Israel lobbied hard for tough US sanctions and maximum pressure on Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have wanted to avoid outright war. Friday’s airstrike that killed the Revolutionary Guard’s powerful Quds Force commander, Qassem Soleimani, appears to have caught America’s Gulf allies off-guard. Now they are trying to make sure the major escalation by President Donald Trump doesn’t drag them further into the cross-hairs of rising tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Iran, which held an unprecedented multi-city funeral procession for Soleimani that drew millions to the streets to mourn him, retaliated early Wednesday by firing a series of ballistic missiles at two military bases in Iraq where American troops are stationed. Trump signaled he would not retaliate militarily, but vowed to continue his campaign of maximum pressure and economic sanctions on Iran.
As the region braces for what comes next, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are calling for de-escalation. Saudi Arabia dispatched Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman to Washington, where he met with Trump and the U.S. president’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner at the White House on Monday. The kingdom says he discussed efforts to reduce tensions and avoid escalations that could further destabilize the region in light of the Iranian regime’s provocations and destabilizing activities. Qatar’s foreign minister, meanwhile, traveled to Tehran the day after the killing of Soleimani and also called for de-escalation. Nobody wants the outbreak of conventional war because when conventional war happens there are no winners, there are just a series of losers, said Mohammed Alyahya, the Saudi editor-in-chief of the Al-Arabiya English news website.
This latest round of tensions has pushed oil prices up, with Brent crude trading around $70 a barrel. UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al-Mazrouei said on Wednesday there is no risk at the moment to the movement of oil in the region or any shortages in oil supply. He noted, however, that Soleimani’s killing was definitely an escalation. Iran is a neighbor. We are (geographically) very close to Iran and the last thing we want is another tension in the Middle East, the energy minister said, reiterating calls for de-escalation.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia have long wanted the U.S. to push back Tehran’s drive to spread influence and power across the region, and Soleimani was central to Iran’s ambitions. Viewed by Sunni Muslims across much of the region as a menacing figure, his role as Quds Force commander put him in charge of lethal Shiite proxy militias in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen fighting against Gulf Arab interests. In Iran, he’s hailed as a national hero who defied U.S. pressure. Even after Soleiman’s killing, there’s little indication they’ve stopped skirting the dangerous line between maximum pressure and war.
Alyahya said the pressure strategy is still needed to stop Iran’s Quds Force but he acknowledged that it is a very risky game, and if it backfires, the consequences are grave. Robert Malley, who heads International Crisis Group and served on Obama’s National Security Council, said Gulf countries are likely satisfied that Soleimani was killed, but are also worried because Iran could inflict serious damage on their economies. I think they are now sending the message to the U.S. and to others: Let’s not let this go too far because you’re living very far away ... we’re going to be the ones who will pay the price and you won’t be here to protect us’, he said.
.....
Gautam

Y. Kanan · Post by **Y. Kanan** » 10 Jan 2020 07:29

Gentle pooch: If, say, u were to get hold of a document painstakingly documenting the news reports that you mention above, would you dare spread it around in public today?

Make your point, sir!

tandav · Post by **tandav** » 10 Jan 2020 08:25

So as per reports, General Qassem Soleimani was on a official visit to Iraq on the invitation of the Iraqis. This was not a secret visit. So this was a blatant assassination of a head of state and US officials better be prepared to be targeted by counter assassinations anywhere in the world. I for one will not travel anywhere alongside a US diplomat. If say I was travelling internationally I would want my airline to guarantee that no US military personnel, politician, state official is traveling in the plane. The risk of a missile attack on them is non negligible and I don't want to be collateral damage.

habal · Post by **habal** » 10 Jan 2020 09:01

first pictures from ain al assad base post strike

John · Post by **John** » 10 Jan 2020 09:20

tandav wrote:So as per reports, General Qassem Soleimani was on a official visit to Iraq on the invitation of the Iraqis. This was not a secret visit. So this was a blatant assassination of a head of state and US officials better be prepared to be targeted by counter assassinations anywhere in the world. I for one will not travel anywhere alongside a US diplomat. If say I was travelling internationally I would want my airline to guarantee that no US military personnel, politician, state official is traveling in the plane. The risk of a missile attack on them is non negligible and I don't want to be collateral damage.

At this point almost everyone outside of Iran has forgotten about Qassem and news is mainly focused on Ukrainian airline. By denying the shoot down Iran basically opened the door for controversy and mystery. Won’t be suprised if Trump catches on and uses this as means to rally support for more sanctions.

tandav · Post by **tandav** » 10 Jan 2020 09:32

John wrote:
tandav wrote:So as per reports, General Qassem Soleimani was on a official visit to Iraq on the invitation of the Iraqis. This was not a secret visit. So this was a blatant assassination of a head of state and US officials better be prepared to be targeted by counter assassinations anywhere in the world. I for one will not travel anywhere alongside a US diplomat. If say I was travelling internationally I would want my airline to guarantee that no US military personnel, politician, state official is traveling in the plane. The risk of a missile attack on them is non negligible and I don't want to be collateral damage.
At this point almost everyone outside of Iran has forgotten about Qassem and news is mainly focused on Ukrainian airline. By denying the shoot down Iran basically opened the door for controversy and mystery. Won’t be suprised if Trump catches on and uses this as means to rally support for more sanctions.

Maybe there were US assets fleeing Iran in it?

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 10 Jan 2020 09:46

Instead of speculation let's look for passenger manifest.

Vikas · Post by **Vikas** » 10 Jan 2020 10:37

Sometimes the answer is right in front of our eyes. It most likely was friendly fire which brought down the Airliner.
No other theory makes enough sense which would cause a govt to bring down a civvie Airliner.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 10 Jan 2020 10:39

mahadevbhu wrote:This can be done for the Mig21/F16 also?

US has men on the ground at Sargodha and probably trackign devices, we have seen videos of F-16 drop tank being hurriedly loaded on the Paki Army truck while the Mig 21 Bison fuelsage was kept for all to inspect and pose photos, plus there is an online video of an orange truck delivering F-16 to PAF base. Plus PAF has "A memorial" at Sargodha for SU-30.

So the US would have known in minutes the F-16 went down, why will they embrass the Pakis, thier own industry and all INC- Left supporters in India who buy the Paki line hook, line and sinker?

There is no need for India to reveal the level of technology we have to monitor Pakis.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 10 Jan 2020 10:45

Vikas wrote:Sometimes the answer is right in front of our eyes. It moist likely was friendly fire which brought down the Airliner.
No other theory makes enough sense which would cause a govt to bring down a civvie Airliner.

Makes complete sense, Iran had just launched 22 BM just 3 hours before, they could easily put thier AIr defences in hi Alert, i.e like our spyders on 27-Feb-19 morning in Naliya Gijarat- which automatically launched and brought down a Paki drone, the TOR could have automatically launched the missile when its radar picked a flying object over its radius it was supposed to protect in Tehran.

The Iranians would not have known whether they had killed Americans in their Missile strike, if they did American CM/PGM would have been incoming at exactly that time and hence missile systems like TOR would have been activated.

The mistake is after the BM launch, the Iranian leadership kept the Civilian airlines operational as hedge against an American attack, ideally they should have shut down thier Airport for 24 hours.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 10 Jan 2020 10:50

mahadevbhu wrote:This can be done for the Mig21/F16 also?

Aren't you carrying this too far?
Once is funny. Not more than that.

mahadevbhu · Post by **mahadevbhu** » 10 Jan 2020 11:19

ramana wrote:
mahadevbhu wrote:This can be done for the Mig21/F16 also?
Aren't you carrying this too far?
Once is funny. Not more than that.

Not being facetious in any of my posts - be it about unFair or this. Hold this place in very high esteem and spend a lot of time reading brf, been lurking since 2002.

habal · Post by **habal** » 10 Jan 2020 13:05

proliferation of S3/400 in middle east.

https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article ... se-system/

Iraq is negotiating with Russia to acquire the S-300 air defense system

BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:00 P.M.)- The head of the Security and Defense Committee in the Iraqi parliament, Mohammad Reza, confirmed on Thursday the ongoing negotiations between the Iraqi and Russian sides to purchase the S-300 system.

Reza said in a special statement to Sputnik Arabic: “This issue was supposed to take place a long time after Hashd Al-Shaabi was targeted in Baghdad and other provinces several months ago, when this weapon was needed, and the responsible authorities have moved to revive negotiations with the concerning S-300 contract.”

...

Reza also expressed his belief that Russian armaments and training are more flexible and less expensive than American armaments and handling.

amitverma · Post by **amitverma** » 10 Jan 2020 14:35

Israel has bombed pro-Iranian militias on Syria-Iraq border
8 members of pro-Iranian Iraqi militia killed in an airstrike in Syria

Israel reportedly attacks Syria-Iraq border, thwarts shipment of Iranian ballistic missiles

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 10 Jan 2020 15:02

Vikas wrote:Sometimes the answer is right in front of our eyes. It most likely was friendly fire which brought down the Airliner.
No other theory makes enough sense which would cause a govt to bring down a civvie Airliner.

Iranian Anti-Aircraft Missile System Mistakenly Shot Down Ukraine Flight: Pentagon And Iraqi Officials

https://swarajyamag.com/insta/iranian-a ... -officials … via @swarajyamag

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 10 Jan 2020 16:51

Y. Kanan wrote: Make your point, sir!

Point made, thx.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 10 Jan 2020 16:52

Why is Swarajyamag parroting the propagandoo? Trying to cover for Boeing?

habal · Post by **habal** » 10 Jan 2020 17:49

according to one ex-military type source on twitter, the Iranians had deployed some jamming device to deny access to US drones from covering the Iraqi, Iranian airspace on that night.

My guess is that the jamming may have screwed up the illfated airline navigation and also jammed controls as a result the pilots tried to turn it back to the airport and they may also have lost control of fly-by-wire control systems which lead to a rapid descent and some military SAM may then have mistook it for a missile.