2022 Hacyinia-Lavana war

2022 Hacyinia-Lavana standoff
Part of Hacyinian-Lavanan wars and conflicts
Hacyinia in Green, Lavana in Orange, and the Yoloten in Blue
Date October 1– present (2 years, 1 month, 3 weeks and 5 days) Location Yoloten DMZ, Hacyinia-Lavana border Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Lavana Yoloten	Hacyinia Zorasan	Yoloten Loyalist Federation (YLF) League for the Liberation of the Yoloten (LLY)
Commanders and leaders
Laina Keomany (Premier of Lavana) Kaipo Nhidomou (Minister of Foreign Affairs) Khudus Dhijivodhi (Minister of Defense) Phet Rustemegrath (Chief of Army Staff) Taras Rasuvong (Admiral of Navy Staff) Ligdan Bekbola (Chief of Air Staff) (Gen.)Tsolmon Bakhtzhany (Gen.)Khoril Chanthavong (Gen.)Dastan Khamsomphou (Adm.)Cesrang Vongphakdy	Makbule Arda Khan (Khan of Hacyinia) Rahim Ali Haftar (State President of Hacyinia)
Strength
	54,000 soldiers XX aircraft
Casualties and losses
26 dead, 33 wounded in Mei Phong Mall car bomb attack.

The 2022 Hacyinia-Lavana standoff is an military standoff between Hacyinia and Lavana that has resulted in the massing of troops on both sides of the border, along with increased activity in the breakaway state of Yoloten where most fighting has concentrated. This is the first major military standoff between Hacyinia and Lavana following the successful establishment of the 2004 Yoloten Ceasefire agreement.

The military buildup was initiated by Lavana responding to the Mei Phong Mall car bomb attack, on October 1st, 2022.(during which 26 people were killed, and 33 were wounded), along with shelling in the breakaway republic of the Yoloten, by Pro-Hacyinian militias. Lavana claimed that Hacyinia had violated the 2004 agreement by failing to properly deal with militias in the demilitarized zone separating the Hacyinian army and the Provisional Administrative and Military Front of the Yoloten (PAMFY), which had launched the attacks. The Yoloten Loyalist Federation (YLF) claimed responsibility on the day of the bombing for the attacks, leading to major Lavanan security operations to catch the perpetrators, and prevent further attacks. Following numerous claims of further attacks.

On October 3rd, Lavana launched airstrikes in the DMZ with the knowledge of Hacyinia, prompting condemnation. The attacks quickly made Hacyinian Khan Makbule Arda, to enter into closer relations with Zorasan, obtaining diplomatic support, along with military equipment. Although initially unmoved by such diplomatic moves , a rapid timeline in the deployment of Zorasani equipment and sudden Zorasani military movements, prompted Lavana and the PAMFY to step down. Following major ballistic attacks by Hacyinia on the PAMFY in the 8th, in retaliation for shelling. Zorasan and Hacyinia conducted military training during the next 3 days from the 11th to the 14th of October.

Both countries remain in high alert, and military buildup in the Hacyinian-Lavanan border continues, along with the Yoloten DMZ.

Prelude

At noon on 1 October 2022, a car bomb exploded on the east side of Mei Phong Mall, close to the eastern entrance of the mall and directly in front of an electronics store. The blast killed 26 people, and 33 were wounded. Among the dead was a Chistovodian woman.

The blast which occurred exactly at 12:04pm, which concurred with Premier Laina Keomany's noon address which had started 4 minutes earlier, in celebration of the countries new Constitution Day holiday. The blast could be heard on national television, and Keomany was dragged by security away from the stage after she stopped her speech in confusion. The car bomb was located close to a series of electronics stores which were playing the speech, the sidewalks near the car bomb were completely filled by watchers of the address which had gathered to watch the event. Authorities struggled to reach the bombsite as the streets of the city were completely blocked by traffic, since Lavana's Independence day was on October 3rd, Lavanan citizens had a 4 day weekend, allowing many to leave the capital for the countryside . Initially as National television was completely blacked out for 35 minutes, reports of a new coup became prevalent, specially as rumors of increased military and police activity in the streets became known. Television announcers reported the attack to Lavanans on national television at 12:40pm, announcing that all Constitution day activities had been cancelled for fear of terrorist attack. The Lavanan security forces were deployed to the streets of all major cities, and Pers was officially cordoned off, as a manhunt for the perpetrators began in Pers.

Smoke rises from the Mei Phong Mall, on October 1st, 2022.

The Yoloten Loyalist Federation (YLF) released a video at 12:40pm claiming responsibility for the car bomb, and decrying Lavanan imperialism and renewed commitment against Oroqics. The demilitarized Zone between Hacyinia and the PAMFY, also experienced shelling as Hacyinian militias began firing against targets in the Yoloten, prompting PAMFY response. Lavana officially requested the Hacyinian ambassador to request Hacyinia uphold the 2004 treaty, which states that Hacyinia must act against militias.. Hacyinia promptly condemned the attacks, but criticized PAMFY shelling of civilian targets in the DMZ, along with aggressive Lavanan posturing who closed all border checkpoints, and threatened to invade Hacyinian airspace. Hacyinia received demands that Lavana demanded that Hacyinia stop the activities of all Hacyinian militias, provide any available intelligence, apprehend the organisation's leaders and their access to all financial assets. Some believed that Lavana gave Hacyinia 72 hours to act, or it would do so unilaterally .

Lavana proceeded to move its armed to their highest readiness level, and enacted its mobilization plans for major movements towards the border. The capital of Pers was locked down, and for 48 hours the city ground to a halt as thousands of security forces swarmed the city looking for the YLF operatives, which had been identified as Dodai Bortei, and Filib Bekzhangsy, by Lavanan intelligence that afternoon . Misinformation by both Hacyinian militias and unaware Lavanans rumored of further bomb attacks, leading to airports, shipyards, military bases, public events, media organizations, and government buildings to be reinforced or closed down between the 1st of October and the 4th of October. All events planned for Lavana's Independence Day celebrations were shelved nationwide. It was estimated that 50,000 police officers, 10,000 soldiers, 3,000 airmen, and 30,000 National Guard personnel were mobilized to provide security to Lavanan cities and facilities over a two week period following the bombing. Lavana performed its largest mobilization since the 1992 Yoloten War, as it moved forces towards the border with Hacyinia and the Yoloten, in preparation to enter the Yoloten to provide security.

October Standoff

October 1st-9th

The PAMFY which had begun returning fire to militia positions on its territory and DMZ, immediately after being shelled. Lavana gave permission to the PAMFY to launch a full retaliation within the hour. The shelling and fighting between the 1st and 4th of October left a reported 45 dead civilians according to the Hacyinian Ministry of Health. Initial reports stated that Lavana had moved troops into the Yoloten, or aircraft had entered into Hacyinian airspace, all were proven to be false however. A Hacyinian delegation sent to Pers, following the summoning of the Hacyinian ambassador, attempted to calm the situation. Lavana was reported to have demanded Hacyinian action against the militias deployed in the DMZ, while it ordered several units to deploy to the east of the country, prompting Hacyinia to do the same.

PAMFY fighting against militias in the Yoloten and DMZ, escalated to its highest since 2009, which had provoked a Lavanan buildup on the border. Lavana conducted airstrikes against militia positions in the Yoloten in support of the PAMFY, the first such strikes since 2000, Lavana conducted these airstrikes with their aircraft having their transponders on. Reports stated that Hacyinia was aware of the strikes, as they had been informed beforehand. Although of limited impact, it was believed that Lavana had sought to threaten Hacyinia into dealing with their militias or threaten having Lavanan assets enter the Yoloten to attack them. The attack prompted condemnation primarily from Zorasan, as the airstrikes were seen as a violation of Hacyinian airspace. PAMFY forces launched several attacks with armored vehicles and artillery at militia positions from the 4th to 5th of October.