Arisdages Koundakjian
Arisdages Koundakjian | |
|---|---|
 Koundakjian in 2011 | |
| Born | 17 January 1959 Arakela, Syara |
| Allegiance |  Syara |
| Service/ | Syaran National Army |
| Years of service | 1988 - 2017 |
| Rank | Field Marshal |
| Unit | Army Group Beta |
| Battles/wars | Refusal War Zemplen War |
| Awards | see below |
Arisdages Koundakjian (born January 17, 1959) is a retired general of the Syaran National Army. He is most well known for serving as the commander of Army Group Beta during the Zemplen War.
An ethnic Clanner, Koundakjian fought for the Wardens during the Refusal War and was afterwards rewarded with a comisssion in the Syaran Commonality Armed Forces. Koundakjian served in a number of divisional commands leading up to the Imerti Conflict when he was placed in charge of the mobilized XIV Corps, although the fighting ended before his forces were comitted. In the inter-war years Koundakjian was promoted Lt. General. Upon the outbreak of the Zemplen War Koundakjian was assigned to Army Group Beta under Field Marshal Aleksandar Čorić as Deputy Commander and promoted to Colonel General. Shortly before the launch of the Ruvelkan Winter Counter-Offensive Koundakjian realized the Ruvelkans main focus would come against Army Group Beta, but Čorić was unconvinced and refused Koundakjian's request to deploy the Army Group's armored reserves in appropriate blocking positions. Once the Ruvelkan offensive was launched and it became clear that Army Group Beta was the main target Čorić was sacked and replaced by Koundakjian, who promptly moved to block the Ruvelkan advance and succesfully halted the collapse of XII Corps. Koundakjian remained in command of the Army Group for the remainder of the war. His most notable action was leading the Battle of Sagerejo, where his forces suffered exceptionally heavy losses. After the war Koundakjian continued to serve in the Syaran Army, becoming part of the General Staff at Central Command. He served in the Operations Directorate from 2012-2016. He retired in 2017, and afterwards vocally criticized Executive Radovan Kostović's decision to pursue reconciliation with Ruvelka.
Koundakjian earned a mixed repuation during the Zemplen War, praised on one hand for his tactical sense and quick thinking, but critized by some for his willingness to endure uncessary casualties in pursuit of his objectives.