Middle Eastern tyrants

Chapter 79 Gaim Guerrilla Team
Al-Iraq, west bank of the Euphrates River, Gaim.

Major General Elizer Cohen, the commander of the 45th Armored Brigade stationed there, was in a bad mood.

He had just received news from the west that Sergiad's 58th Armored Brigade had been attacked by Arab armored forces and was likely to be unable to hold out.

This means their supply lines have been cut off.

He had originally hoped to get assistance from the 58th Brigade, but now it seems he might be caught in a pincer movement.

Fortunately, Gaim is a large city, and Zion built a lot of fortifications and ammunition reserves there to set up its lines, in order to prevent Al-Irag's forces from forcibly crossing the river one day.

"Double Will, Amir bin Muhammad"

Although Arab names are generally long, Major General Cohen, like other high-ranking officers in the Zion forces, still vaguely remembered the name Amir.

"He is said to be a master of artillery command."

The chief of staff said, "According to intelligence from the 58th Brigade, Shuangzhi's artillery units are equipped with a very powerful howitzer that can penetrate reinforced concrete fortifications."

Major General Amir had repeatedly commanded artillery in precision bombardments, destroying numerous artillery and air defense positions.

Major General Cohen stated, "It's nothing more than fire control radar plus computer calculation of the parabola. Our Zion's ace gunners can also achieve this level of accuracy. Eugene just suffered from being ambushed."

In modern warfare, air power is the key to victory!

Eighteen hours had passed since the start of the war, and Zion's forces had calmed down from their initial panic.

Taking advantage of the favorable terrain, they launched a counterattack against the Al-Iraq army.

The narrowest section of the Euphrates River is only a little over 200 meters wide, and it was here that Al-Iraq's army laid a pontoon bridge to forcibly cross the river.

(Military pontoon bridges, segmented structure, using multi-node hinges or quick-release pins, can maintain overall stability even if some connection points fail.)
Along both banks of the river, both sides amassed a large number of tanks and artillery for a firefight. The density of T-62s and M48A3s deployed by Al-Iraq was astonishing, and from a distance, the flashes of fire almost formed a line.

Zion initially attempted to exert pressure through its air force, but was quickly suppressed by ground-based air defenses and returned empty-handed after losing two previously captured MiG fighters.

"Any news from Eagle's Nest?" Major General Cohen asked.

"No," the chief of staff replied. "The most stressful battlefields right now are in the Sinai Peninsula and Damascus. We can't spare any extra air force to support us."

Major General Cohen frowned. Just as he was about to continue formulating the battle plan, he faintly heard bursts of gunfire and artillery fire outside the command room, along with shouts from people.

Major General Cohen nimbly rose and hid behind the wall, asking, "What's going on?"

"Report!" a soldier burst in: "The guerrillas in the city are seizing the broadcasting station and have already engaged our troops!"

"A bunch of untouchables!"

Major General Cohen launched into a tirade; in Gaim, the guerrillas were his most hated enemy.

Historically, Qaim was one of the most powerful regions of the Al-Iraq tribe, known for its fierce and warlike nature and its emphasis on honor, and it was extremely hostile to Westerners (the later "Al-Qaeda" organization used this place as an important stronghold).

"They want to take this opportunity to create internal strife and coordinate with the troops outside!"

Major General Cohen slammed his fist on the table: "Bring in the tanks to suppress them. Kill any who resist. No need to report to me!"

The staff officer hesitated, "Isn't doing this somewhat inhumane?"

"These lowly people don't deserve to be called human!" Major General Cohen said coldly. "They brought this on themselves!"

------

In downtown Gaim, on the burning streets, Zion soldiers rode armored vehicles over the ruins, machine guns warily pointed at every window.

Qasim crouched on the second floor of the abandoned bakery, his RPG-7 rocket launcher beside him. Their targets were the tanks, which posed the greatest threat.

At that moment, light footsteps came from downstairs.

Qasim tensed instantly, but instead of an enemy, it was the old baker Farouk who appeared at the top of the stairs, carrying a burlap sack. "Eat something, child," the old man said softly, untying the sack to reveal a few rough pieces of naan and a small jar of olive paste. "You haven't eaten all day."

Qasim hesitated for a moment, then finally took the food: "Thank you, sir, but you shouldn't have come here. The Zionians are hunting down anyone who helps the Resistance."

“Let them come!” Farouk snorted, his face full of disdain. “Ever since the Zionians took over Gaim, my shop has been ransacked three times, and even my son was taken away by them and hasn’t returned yet.”

If a few pieces of naan can feed the soldiers fighting alongside them, then it's a worthwhile deal!

Just then, a heavy creaking sound came from downstairs. Qasim saw a flash of light on the roof of the building opposite; it was his guerrilla comrades signaling to him.

Without a word, Qasim picked up the rocket launcher. He saw a Centurion tank approaching from a block away, with four Zion soldiers on board.

(Centurion Mk.5)

Qasim's heart pounded, and he said to Farouk, "Uncle, you should go now."

"Oh, oh," Uncle Farouk said without any pretense, running towards the stairs in a few strides, not forgetting to turn back and say, "Be careful!"

Kasim silently counted down in his mind, waiting for the tank to get close before firing.

three,
two.
Qasim took a deep breath, stood up with his RPG slung over his shoulder, and then pulled the trigger on the centurion's turret.

Click.

Unexpectedly, it failed to fire.

A cold sweat instantly soaked through Qasim's back as he realized he might have forgotten to pull the safety pin in his haste.

"Qasim!"

"Quick, throw the Molotov cocktail!"

Upon seeing this, the partisans on the roof of the neighboring building suddenly threw down two Molotov cocktails, which landed on the infantry group next to the tank, and the flames exploded.

The Zion soldiers downstairs cursed as their coaxial machine guns began firing at the surrounding buildings.

The crowd screamed and scattered, and some civilians inside the houses were accidentally injured, their blood splattering on the white walls and curtains, staining them with a glaring red.

"Damn junk!"

As he muttered curses under his breath, Qasim pulled out the pin with trembling hands and then reloaded the rocket into the barrel.

He aimed a second time, and this time the rocket roared out, but Qasim didn't even see if it hit—because he saw the soldiers on the ground aiming their guns at him.

He rolled on the spot, and bullets whistled through the window.

Immediately afterwards, a violent explosion was heard outside.

Without thinking twice, Qasim scrambled to his feet and ran outside, abandoning even the cannon barrel.

The Zionians will not spare anyone in this building; soldiers will soon be sent to clear it out and kill every living person in sight.

Two blocks away, a modified Centurion equipped with a flamethrower is driving into the area.

Its entire body was welded with explosion-proof grilles, and then the dark muzzle was aimed at the building where Qasim had just been.

Then it opened fire.

A full twenty-pound high-explosive bomb hit the building's load-bearing column, and the enormous air pressure shattered all the nearby windows, sending up a huge plume of smoke.

The building let out a fragile groan, as if someone had just realized they had been shot, and then with a loud "boom," it turned into ruins.

(End of this chapter)