Middle Eastern tyrants

Chapter 64 The Situation in Al-Irag

Military aid from the United States came raining down like a "billion-dollar subsidy."

At the Hafbar base in the northern border region, the top priority now is building warehouses and runways; otherwise, there's nowhere to store all this equipment worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and it'll just be left out in the sand.

"The Zion's defensive line in Al-Iraq has begun to contract, retreating from the outskirts of the capital Baghdad to the Euphrates River front in the center. It seems that their supplies are running out."

Ibrahim is reporting the latest developments from the past few days to Lu Lin.

The distance from Tel Aviv, the capital of Zion, to Baghdad is over 800 kilometers, far exceeding the limits of normal resupply.

After the ceasefire, in order to maintain actual control over western Al-Ilag, Zion advanced towards northern Surria while airdropping various supplies.

However, it now appears that the pressure from supply shortages is making it difficult for Zion to continue putting pressure on Baghdad.

This is the disadvantage of small countries.

"That sounds like good news," Lu Lin said.

“But there’s also bad news,” Ibrahim said. “In order to control the Kirkuk oil fields, Zion has openly supported the Kurdish independence movement north of Al-Iraq and provided them with military aid.”

In exchange, the Kurds provided half of the crude oil production from the Kirkuk oil field to Zion, which led to the civil war in Al-Iraq becoming increasingly uncontrollable.

The fighting between the Ba'ath Party-led government forces and Kurdish militants in Erbil has reached a fever pitch in recent days, with tens of thousands of Kurdish civilians fleeing to Fars.

Kurds.

Lu Lin's strongest impression of this ethnic group used to be "Kurdish female soldiers," who were known as desert beauties.

She's beautiful, and she's even more ruthless than men in battle.

"Zion... what a bunch of troublemakers."

As the fourth largest ethnic group in the Middle East, the Kurds are mainly distributed in Anatolia, Al-Iraq, Fars, and Surya.

As descendants of the hero Saladin, the Kurds have suffered from exclusion and persecution by neighboring countries for centuries, and their 30 million people do not have their own country.

Based on the principle that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," and given the ongoing repression of the Kurds by the Al-Iraq government, the Kurds decided to join forces with Zion and establish the Republic of Mahabad in northern Al-Iraq.

Decades ago, the Zionites fled from Europe to Arafat and established their first state.

This cooperation may well be an attempt by the Kurds to emulate Zion.

However, Lu Lin didn't actually have any prejudice against the Kurds, but if they chose to stand on Zion's side, he wouldn't be lenient.

Ibrahim explained, "Actually, Al-Iraq did have the idea of ​​helping the Kurds establish an autonomous region, but the Kirkuk oil field is too important, accounting for 60% to 70% of the country's total oil production, and Al-Iraq could not give it up."

Not to mention that half of them were given to Zion for free, which is no different from slapping the Ba'ath Party government in the face.

Lu Lin stroked the pendant on his chest, thinking of the "Anfar Massacre" that happened in later years, which may have been the trigger.

Damn it, Zion.

Lu Lin clenched his fist lightly: "As long as we can win."

At that moment, an M60A1 rumbled up and stopped in front of Lu Lin. Then the turret hatch opened, and Bandar's imposing body squeezed out.

"How are you feeling?" Lu Lin asked loudly.

"I can't take it anymore, it's too hot!" Bandar grabbed his hat to fan himself and gulped down a bottle of water. Wiping the sweat from his face, he said, "The tanks made in the United States are a bit more comfortable than the T-54, with much more space inside, but they're just as hot! Under the sun, it's like being in an iron coffin!"

Lu Lin: "Isn't there a fan inside the turret?"

“Those two little fans are completely useless,” Bandar complained. “And what I’m more worried about is that the air-cooled diesel engine is prone to stalling at high temperatures! If we really go to war, the engine will inevitably have to accelerate and climb hills frequently, and the burden will be even heavier then.”

Ibrahim asked, "Isn't there any solution?"

Bandar clicked his tongue and thought for a moment: "We can try welding temporary fan brackets outside the engine compartment to improve airflow. Also, laying wet canvas on the outside of the turret should be effective."

Normally, the hatch can be left half-open for ventilation, which makes the inside of the car more comfortable.

Lu Lin frowned: "Half-open hatches are very dangerous. In wartime, they can easily get shrapnel in."

Bandar shrugged: "It's better than the crew getting heatstroke. I kept switching positions with the loader, and the area near the gun barrel was scorching hot!"

Lu Lin and Ibrahim exchanged glances, wondering if it was still feasible to contact the United States' after-sales service at this point.
"Try to get through it. The Zionians aren't having an easy time either," Lu Lin comforted. "I'll make sure the crew gets salt tablets and glucose water so they don't get dehydrated and dizzy."

The chief captured from the Zionites was also an impenetrable iron shell.

Bandar nodded. "That would be perfect. The Zionians aren't as heat-resistant as we are; they're all quite delicate."

At this moment, Fahd walked over and saluted Lu Lin: "Major General, Prince Muhammad has sent word that you need to return in a couple of days to prepare for officer training."

Lu Lin was completely baffled as to what kind of training this was.

“It’s a military simulation exercise,” Ibrahim said. “I guess the royal family invited military experts from Masr to summarize this war and tell us how to fight Zion.”

Bandar pointed to himself: "Do we have to go too?"

"They said all officers of division rank or above had to go."

"Alright, I understand. Tell my father, General, that I'll go after I've finished dealing with things here."

Fahd immediately replied to the message.

Bandar scoffed, "Masr's staff officers are going to teach us how to fight? A bunch of defeated guys don't even deserve to be called experts. Is this what they call learning from mistakes?"

Before this war, Masr held a firm position as the leader of the Arab world, and with Ant backing him, the public generally believed that the Arab coalition could quickly defeat Zion.

Unfortunately, reality slapped them in the face too quickly.

Masr's title of "Invincible Army" was not only shattered, but he was also nailed to the pillar of shame.

"Maybe they can actually say something? Well, I don't have high expectations, as long as they don't talk nonsense."

Ibrahim turned to look at Lu Lin: "Should we call Tamiya?"

From the perspective of military rank, Taymiye is still a brigadier general, second only to Lu Lin in the army, and even higher than Bandar and Ibrahim.

Lu Lin thought for a moment and said, "Let's skip it. It's better to minimize contact between church members and Masr's higher-ups unless you want to see a full-blown fight."

Masr's Pan-Arabism was opposed to the Wahhabi sect of Shuangzhi, and both sides wished they could scatter each other's ashes.

Ibrahim nodded in deep agreement: "That makes sense."

(End of this chapter)