Middle Eastern tyrants

Chapter 241 Piercing (Part Two)

"Marshal, the enemy's Fifth Army has completely withdrawn into the city."

The staff officer was reporting the current battle situation to Lu Lin: "They have abandoned all the outer positions at the foot of the Karmal Mountains, leaving behind at least forty tanks and a large number of heavy weapons."

Lu Lin put down his binoculars and glanced at the position he had just captured.

In the foxhole where the smoke of battle had not yet dissipated, a Zion soldier lay on his back, his azure eyes staring blankly at the sky, his still-childish face looking no more than fifteen years old.

"Are even teenagers being sent to the battlefield?"

Lu Lin had long been accustomed to these things, but every time he was on the battlefield, his heart was inevitably stirred.

Fahad leaned out of the tank turret, dusting off his hands: "This shows that Zion is at its wit's end. They are prolonging their lives by mortgaging their future. We are not far from victory."

A report came over the radio from the frontline commander: "The 2nd Armored Division is clearing out the remaining strongholds on the outskirts of the city and is expected to complete the encirclement of Haifa within three hours. Next comes urban warfare."

“Well done,” Lu Lin replied. “Keep the pace and proceed steadily.”

"understand!"

Although the Twins successfully breached Zion's defenses in Haifa, they also suffered heavy losses, as evidenced by the still-burning wreckage left on the plains.

At that moment, Ibrahim's voice came through the radio: "Amir, there's something amiss on the Northwest Front. The Surya Army Group is launching a large-scale armored assault, completely disregarding flank cover. Their artillery is also conducting relentless saturation fire, which goes beyond the scope of conventional tactics."

Lu Lin frowned and subconsciously looked to the northwest. Although the Surya army was known for its bravery, such a desperate gamble was clearly unusual.

"Inform Commander Hafez in my name," Lu Lin ordered, "and tell him to be careful to control the pace of the attack and not to let temporary gains go to his head."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Move forward a little bit in time.

Located at the easternmost tip of the Arabian Peninsula, Shuangzhi is bordered by two other Arab countries: Lahuaa (Yemen) and Magan (Oman).

While the Arab League and Sihanoukville were at war, Magan and Rawaa, though geographically isolated, were still embroiled in their own internal strife.

Leaving aside Lahuaa, the civil war in Magan has entered its eighth year.

No one expected that this civil war in a remote country would affect the main battlefield between the Arab League and Zion.

Historically, Magan was colonized by the United Kingdom for a long period, and the old King Said ruled the country for decades with the support of the United Kingdom.

To maintain his rule, the old sultan implemented a harsh policy of isolation, prohibiting technological development within the country, banning people from wearing glasses, using bicycles, and even requiring special permission to go out at night.

The entire police force and military are commanded by officers of the United Kingdom, making it a puppet regime in every sense of the word.

In this context, Dhofar Province, located in the southernmost part of Magan, was neglected by the central government for a long time due to its barren land, and its people suffered from poverty and disease. As a result, the locals formed the Dhofar Liberation Front in dissatisfaction, aiming to fight for the independence of the province.

Initially, the rebellion was not taken seriously.

The old king, Said, merely gathered troops on the spot to suppress the rebels, and the fighting between the two sides was limited to low-intensity guerrilla warfare.

Until two years later—

South Lahuaa began contacting the Dhofar Liberation Front, providing it with funds, weapons, training grounds, and a set of ideological programs called "Marxism".

It is worth mentioning that South Al-Rawad was the only socialist country in the Arab world at the time, and its backers were the Antey.

The two sides quickly reached an agreement, and in the same year, a large number of members of the "Afghanistan Federation" were sent to Ant to receive military and political training, learning modern warfare and ideological mobilization.

The Liberation Front, having gained theoretical and material support, quickly transformed and reorganized into the "Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf" (PFLAG for short).

At this time, the "Afghanistan" also changed its goal of "independence" to "overthrowing the king's rule and turning Magan into a socialist country".

Armed by the Ant system, the Afghan forces advanced with unstoppable momentum, and the government forces suffered repeated defeats.

It was only then that the old king realized something was wrong. The frightened old sultan hurriedly sought help from the United Kingdom, hoping to get military assistance.

However, the United Kingdom was deeply embroiled in the first oil crisis initiated by Shuangzhi and had no time to care about Magan.
As a result, during the subsequent assassination attempt on the king by the Afghan forces, Saeed became neurotic and hid in the palace, afraid to show his face in public.

The following year, in the same month that Lu Lin led his army to recapture Damascus, the famous "palace coup" occurred in Magan.

The old king, Said, was deposed, and his son, Qaboos, became the new king of Oman.

The biggest challenge Qaboos faced after taking office was dealing with the fully formed "Afghanistan coalition".

This young and powerful leader changed his father's timid approach, not only intensifying military attacks on the rebels but also winning the hearts of the people by providing them with public services such as healthcare, education, and water.

In addition, he ordered the pardon of surrendered rebels in an attempt to divide and weaken the rebel forces from within.

Qaboos's methods were initially effective, quickly stabilizing the capital and several nearby provinces.

At the same time, he successfully secured military and economic aid from countries such as Shuangzhi and Persia, which quickly consolidated his regime.

But he was not just facing the PFLAG or South Al-Rawad—but also Ant, and the secular Arab states that Ant supported.

The secular Arab states, led by Al-Iraq, transported large quantities of supplies to Dhofar via the Strait of Hormuz, making the rebels increasingly powerful.

Oman is currently like a raging volcano, with all sides adding fuel to the fire, making the already complex situation even more intense.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The time soon came to March 11th.

This was the very night Hilbert was giving a speech in Jerusalem, and the night the Double-Way Assault Brigade launched its naval surprise attack on Haifa.

"Your Majesty, this is a reply from the Queen of the United Kingdom." A royal attendant respectfully handed a letter to King Qaboos.

Qaboos reached out and took it.

The young ruler had a meticulously manicured mustache, and his fair, coffee-colored skin shone in the candlelight. His well-tailored white robe was embroidered with gold thread, and every gesture exuded the elegance of royalty.

He unfolded the letter and first saw the Queen's withdrawal, then read: "Your Majesty Sultan Qaboos of Magan: Thank you for your recent letter. I am deeply concerned to learn of the complex situation you are dealing with in the Dhofar region."

However, after careful discussions with my cabinet ministers, I must frankly admit that, under the current circumstances, the United Kingdom is unable to provide the military support you expect. You should understand that the Middle East issue is causing us considerable distress, and Parliament is maintaining an exceptionally cautious approach on this matter.

However, I assure you that we are closely monitoring the situation in the Magna Caracas. The Embassy in Muscat will continue to maintain close communication with your country and provide necessary assistance in the humanitarian field.

Kabus closed the letter, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

He had intended to use the power of the United Kingdom to quell the internal strife, but it was clear that the Queen had seen through his intentions.

The current situation in Magan appears to be a civil war within the country, but in reality, it subtly reveals a confrontation between the United States and Ant.

In this situation, the United Kingdom would prefer to sit back and watch the two sides fight.

Moreover, for Qaboos personally, his plan to completely break Magan out of the control of the United Kingdom has essentially revealed its true intentions.

Magan had been colonized by the United Kingdom for over two hundred years and had been under unequal treaties. In addition to dealing with the FRA, restoring Magan to freedom was one of Qaboos's goals.

"His Majesty,"

The Prime Minister suggested in a low voice, "Perhaps we can bring in other Arab countries as allies to deal with the rebels and South Arabah."

Qaboos's mustache twitched: "For example?"

"Double Will".

Upon hearing this answer, Qaboos fell into deep thought.

This rapidly rising neighbor is indeed powerful, but there's an old saying, "It's easy to invite a god, but hard to send him away." If things aren't handled properly, Shuangzhi might become Magan's suzerain state.
“We’ll discuss this later,” he finally said. “Let’s wait until their war with Zion is over.”

That evening, Qaboos had a sudden inspiration and decided to hold a parade.

Previously, the king's car was a Mercedes-Benz, but at Qaboos's request, he sold the luxury car and replaced it with an ordinary sedan. He used the money to build schools and clinics.

May Allah bless you, Your Majesty!

The car carrying Qaboos moved slowly through the streets, and wherever it went, people knelt down to pray for blessings.

Looking into the devout eyes of his people, the young sultan felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

This is one of his few hobbies, one that satisfies a young man's vanity.

Then, Qaboos stood in the center of the square, his voice clear and resonant: "This year we will build twenty new clinics and introduce new medical equipment! During the spring planting season, the government will provide high-quality seeds and farming tools. Our children will have the opportunity to receive a better education."

His speech wasn't particularly outstanding, but it was full of simplicity and enthusiasm. Every word and every sentence was in a vocabulary that the people of Magan could understand.

Just then, there was a loud "bang".

At first, Qaboos didn't realize what was happening and was still enthusiastically talking about his bright future plans until the second shot rang out, at which point he realized he was being attacked.

The crowd immediately screamed and descended into chaos.

The guards hurriedly tackled Qaboos to the ground, but the young king did not choose to dodge; instead, he drew his gun and fired back.

The assassin fired his gun while shouting, "For liberation! Down with the feudal dynasty!"

The scene quickly turned into a shooting exchange, but unfortunately, Qaboos's marksmanship was poor, and he missed every shot.

In a flash, a bullet pierced Qaboos' right foot, and the king fell to the ground.

A soldier tried to help the king up, but Qaboos broke free and shouted, "Go and catch the assassin!"

"You go and capture the assassin, I'll take His Majesty back to the palace!" the prime minister shouted from the side.

After getting into the car, the Prime Minister hurriedly checked the King's injuries. The bullet had hit Qaboos's instep, and blood was gushing out.

"This requires surgery, and I estimate you won't be able to walk for a long time."

The Prime Minister observed the King's expression and found that the King's face was terribly gloomy.

This assassination attempt was strikingly similar to the assassination attempt on King Sayyid three years ago by the "Ajin" (Arab forces). "You heard what the assassin said, didn't you?" King Qaboos asked coldly.

The Prime Minister hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, I heard it very clearly."

The opposing side was chanting the slogan "Afghanistan".

This slogan is so widespread in Dhofar province that it is practically synonymous with the "Arab Front".

But the Prime Minister had a very strange feeling at this moment. Although the FAP had a history of such incidents and a history of violence, the Prime Minister felt that there were many suspicious points about this assassination. He couldn't explain why, but he just felt that something was wrong.
However, the young king was already angry.

Perhaps it was because he had touched a nerve, or perhaps it was because of the repeated provocations, but King Qaboos's eyes burned with anger: "We must find a way to end this war completely."

The excruciating pain jolted the young king's nerves, and he dragged his injured foot into the palace, leaving bloody footprints with every step.

The Prime Minister hurriedly followed the King, instructing the guards to quickly push the wheelchair over while carefully supporting him.

Qaboos went to his table, which was covered with a huge map.

Years of civil war forced him to study battle plans even when he was still a prince.

King Qaboos pointed his baton heavily at Al-Irag's position, his voice icy: "To break the enemy's legs, you must first cut off their reinforcements."

As a key ally and stronghold of Ant Group in the Middle East, Al-Iraq transported a large amount of weapons and equipment to South Rawaa and the FPSO, and openly supported the FPSO's liberation movement.

The prime minister was terrified: "Your Majesty, are you preparing to go to war with Al-Iraq?"

Although both are Middle Eastern countries, Magan and Al-Iraq are not on the same level at all. In addition, Al-Iraq has Ant backing it up, so this war is simply impossible to win.

Even though Al-Iraq was badly beaten by Zion before, that was because his opponent was Zion!

“No,” Qaboos interrupted him, “pass on my order: from this moment on, Magan will completely block the Strait of Hormuz!”

The Prime Minister thought about it and said, "Well, although this proposal sounds a bit crazy, it's at least much better than going to war with Al-Iraq directly."

Sure enough, when these Middle Eastern monarchs are pushed to the limit, they become more and more reckless than the last.

He tentatively asked, "So how long will this lockdown last?"

Qaboos's answer was firm: "Until South Lahuaa stops supporting the PFLP, or the entire rebel group surrenders."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

News of Magan's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz quickly spread throughout the Arab coastal countries.

Although Shuangzhi was not on the blockade list, cargo ships heading to the Pacific Ocean were still subject to inspection.

This made Shuangzhi realize a serious problem for the first time.

That is, their only outlet to the sea in the Persian Gulf can be blocked at any time.

Moreover, it wasn't just Magan who controlled the right of passage through the Strait of Hormuz; Persia and Trusir also held this right.
Today Magan can say he intercepted Al-Ilag's cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, but who can say for sure tomorrow?

This strait, less than fifty nautical miles long, is the maritime lifeline of countries such as Shuangzhi, Corvette, and Al-Ilag. What will they do if Magan or other countries set up checkpoints in the strait and demand taxes in the future?
Just then, a encrypted call came in from the President of the United States, Ford.

“Moody,”

The president began, “Our warships encountered some trouble in Magan Bay. It seems your neighbors are having some issues and are searching passing ships.”

"They searched you?"

“No, they’re not stupid,” President Ford asked. “But do you have any leads on this matter?”

Muhammad said, "As far as I know, Magan is intercepting arms ships bound for South Lahuaa."

There was no need to hide this, or rather, Ford probably already knew the truth before making that call.

After a brief silence, Ford stated bluntly: "I believe that a stable and mutually beneficial Magna is the key to securing our oil trade."

“I have made meeting with King Magan my top priority,” Muhammad responded. “As fellow monarchies, I think we should have things to talk about. If we can resolve this peacefully, that would be best.”

"Yes, Peace. I look forward to your good news." Ford hung up the phone, and the smile on his face disappeared.

Peace is not the style of the United States; they are accustomed to taking the initiative and resolving problems with swift and decisive action.

President Ford quickly convened his cabinet. This matter was not only about the United States' strategy in the Middle East, but also about his approval rating as president, so he dared not take it lightly.

"Gentlemen."

Ford began, “Now a huge problem is facing me and our allies. The rebels in the Magan are preparing to overthrow their government, and the rebels are backed by Ant. If we do nothing, the entire Persian Gulf will fall into Ant’s hands.”

Upon hearing this, the cabinet members present felt their blood pressure spike.

Secretary of State Ehrlich, sporting prominent eye bags, asked bluntly, "Your Excellency, do you want Vietnam to suffer the same fate as we did in Saigon?"

The recently concluded Vietnam War was a disgrace to the United States.

Not only did the strategic objectives completely fail, but it also caused heavy casualties and moral trauma.

And what's happening in Magan now sounds so much like the Vietnam War, doesn't it?

“The Vietnam War has just ended,” the Defense Secretary interrupted. “If I may be so bold, Your Excellency, anti-war sentiment is running high in the country right now, and it would be unwise to intervene in an overseas conflict at this time.”

"Are we just going to stand by and watch the Ants interfere in the Magna Caracas's internal affairs? And then let the Ants take over the Persian Gulf? That's practically handing the entire world's money bag to the Ants!"

President Ford leaned back on the sofa, watching the changes in the faces of his cabinet members.

These people were his colleagues when he was vice president, and he knew all too well what they thought and what their weaknesses were.

President Ford continued, "Moreover, we don't need to get involved this time. We have our own allies in the Middle East. For example, Shuangzhi, as you have all seen, that Amir is now the marshal of the Arab Allied Forces and the most capable general in the entire Middle East. He can make Zion run for its life, so dealing with the Magan will naturally be no problem at all!"

Even if Shuangzhi is unwilling to act, we can still arm the Persians, just as Ant regards Al-Irag as their proxy.

Silence fell over the meeting room as everyone exchanged knowing glances.

"Without direct intervention, I believe there is value in further discussion," the Defense Minister was the first to change his tune.

“That’s true,” the Republican whip began. “But I suggest we first come up with a set of rules and then submit them to the House and Senate, rather than having a few of us make the final decision.”

The other cabinet members nodded in agreement, and even Secretary of State Ehrlich expressed his approval.

Ford breathed a sigh of relief, as if something had finally gone smoothly during this period: "Of course, we are a free and democratic country, and all decisions will be made by the people, unlike Ant, which uses highly centralized power to restrict the people's thoughts."

At that moment, the Republican whip looked at the round wooden sculpture hanging on the wall of the president's reception room, a meticulously carved emblem of the United States made of oak and linden wood.

He then asked, "Is this some kind of new handicraft?"

President Ford glanced back at it first, then smiled and said, "This is a gift from the Young Pioneers of Ant, given to us twenty-five years ago to symbolize the friendship between our alliance and Ant, after our victory against the Prosen Empire. I hung it here to remind myself not to forget our potential enemies."

Five hundred meters outside the White House, inside a surveillance vehicle disguised as a telephone repair truck, Antey agents are recording this conversation.

The wooden sculpture contained a primitive resonant listening device that required no electricity, was undetectable, and could transmit information solely through sound wave vibrations.

“The United States is finally making its move.” Igor handed the deciphered coded note to the radio operator beside him. “They intend to install a proxy and seize control of Magan’s regime.”

The telegraph operator's fingers flew across the encryption machine, converting the intelligence into ciphertext: "Urgent telegram: Confirmation that the United States intends to intervene militarily in the Magan situation through the Kingdom of Shuangzhi and Persia. Recommendation."

The moment the send button was pressed, the encrypted radio waves crossed the vast Atlantic Ocean and headed straight for the underground receiving station in the Lubyanka Building in Moscow.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Moscow, Kremlin.

"Comrades, the capitalists in Washington are preparing to take action against us."

General Secretary Vasily Orlov slammed the intelligence documents down on the oak conference table. “They want to seize Magan and turn this strategic location into their puppet regime.”

Seated around the table were the top leadership of the Anti-Kingdoms organization: KGB Chairman Ivan Petrov, Defense Minister Marshal Dmitry Sokolov, and Foreign Minister Andrei Gromov.

“South Al-Rawaa is our most important base in the Middle East,” Petrov said first. “As the first and only country in the Arab world to practice scientific socialism, this revolutionary spark must be preserved.”

Marshal Sokolov pointed to the Strait of Hormuz on the map: "The Magan Strait controls the entrance to the Persian Gulf. If it falls, the strategic balance of the entire Arabian Sea will be broken. But we cannot directly challenge the strait blockade now, as this would give the imperialists an excuse to start a war."

"The key issue is still the power of discourse on the battlefield."

Gromov adjusted his glasses. "Since the United States wants to exert influence through the Double Will, we must achieve a decisive victory on the front lines!"

"Comrade Lev fought very well in the Golan Heights."

A sharp glint flashed in Orlov's eyes. "He has proven that our military advisory system is effective. I recommend that Comrade Sergei Ivanovich Markov be sent to the Surya front to command the army group in operations."

He performed admirably in the counterinsurgency operations on the Bactrian (Afghanistan) border and is fully capable of leading the Surrey forces to break through the enemy lines.

A chorus of approval rose in the conference room.

This decision means that the proxy war is about to escalate.

“Give Comrade Markov the greatest autonomy,” Orlov concluded. “We must let the United States know that there is more than one Amir bin Mohammed in the Middle East.”

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

PS: The "Great Seal" incident (Operation Golden Lips).

This famous event took place in the early Cold War. In 1945, to commemorate the US-Soviet alliance during World War II, the Anthem Young Pioneers presented a beautifully crafted wooden American national emblem (the gift shown in the image) to US Ambassador to the Soviet Union, Avery Harriman.

However, the wood carving contained a very sophisticated passive listening device that was undetectable at the time, which kept the eavesdropping undetected for a long time.

The wiretapping device was accidentally discovered by British intelligence during a wiretapping operation against the Soviet Union in 1952.

However, in this fictional setting, due to the adversarial relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, the crucial opportunity for British intelligence intervention was missed, and therefore it has not yet been discovered. (In short, please treat this as serving the plot and don't worry about the exact timeline.)

(End of this chapter)