Tusaderian Civil War

Tusaderian Civil War
Part of the Perasan Socialist Crisis
Date February 28, 1978 – February 9, 1986 (7 years, 11 months, 1 week and 5 days) Location Tusaderi Result Pyrrhic EST alliance victory Removal of Ushturaq leadership Failure to dismantle insurgency Withdrawal of Prokho and EST armed forces from Tusaderi Prokho-Malateri Pact of 1981
Belligerents
EST alliance: Prokhogorsk Malateria (1981-1985) Other: Tusaderi	Insurgents: Ushturaq
Commanders and leaders
Dolzog Nipretina † Magan Sazkun Pavlenko Mirovnic Sivan Pashevari Tariq Al-Altabir	Ogari Al-Binteb
Strength
EST forces: 148,000 100,000 48,000 Other forces: 8,000	Ushturaq forces: ~200,000
Casualties and losses
Alliance casualties: 6,039 killed (total)	Ushturaq casualties: ~50,000 killed (Prokho estimates)
Tusaderian civilians: 300,000–500,000 killed 2-5 million displaced

The Tusaderian Civil War was a civil war in Tusaderi following the Ushturaq insurgent takeover of government and subsequent intervention by Prokhogorsk and its regional allies within the EST, in an attempt to contain insurgent and UNISOC expansion within Siradia. The conflict is largely recognized as a pyrrhic victory for EST forces which lost 6,039 military personnel, and directly resulted in the deaths of at least 300,000 civilians and displacement of over 2,000,000.

Following President Tariq Al-Altabir's declaration of withdrawal from UNISOC in 1976, Tusaderi fell into disorder. Revolutionary factions took up arms against the Al-Altabir government, the most prominent of which being the pro-UNISOC Ushturaq, made up of militant socialists who played a key role in the 1971 revolution against the monarchy. By 1977 the Ushturaq had seized several villages and small towns, striking with impunity against the underfunded police force and military. In late 1977, rebel forces attacked the capital, with the Ushturaq claiming control over the nation as the de facto government. President Al-Altabir was evacuated to a safe house near the northern border by Prokho intelligence services, but was later found and executed by insurgents in late 1979.

Having observed the chaos and takeover in Tusaderi, Prime Minister Dolzog Nipretina (acting on behalf of the Al-Altabir government) authorized military action on grounds of "deterring the threat to homeland security and regional stability". Prokho military forces mobilized in early 1978, but following a series of successful conventional offensives became bogged down by determined Ushturaq guerilla action over the course of the next 7 years. Prokho counter-insurgency efforts were frustrated by a resentful, uncooperative populace and were ineffectual in locating many of the Ushturaq cells operating throughout the country. Public support in Prokhogorsk for the war steadily deteriorated as the economic and human cost of the conflict rose, leading to dissent against the government, most particularly with the ill-fated Lahtselka Uprising.

Under Prime Minister Pavlenko Mirovnic, Prokhogorsk officially began its withdrawal from Tusaderi in January of 1986 over the course of the month. After years of conflict, the Ushturaq splintered and continued warring for control of the Tusaderi hinterland. The Prokho-installed government slowly crumbled without military support, its territories devolving into lawlessness before it was toppled in a coup by former general Semran Zayani. Having achieved no lasting objectives and directly resulting in irreparable damage and loss of life, the Prokho intervention is regarded as one of the largest strategic military failures by a major military power in modern times.

Background

With the foundation of United Socialist Coalition (UNISOC) by Ostroci at the beginning of 1968, various nations around Esermia and Siradia who aligned to its Socialist position promptly joined the bloc. With the creation of UNISOC, neighboring Perasan nations such as Terados and Kapania joined the bloc in the months following its conception. President Tariq Al-Altabir, who had been in office since the revolution of 1971, was optimistic for the guarantee of military protection offered by UNISOC. After entering negotiations with Premier Pesek of Ostroci in late 1972, Tusaderi became a member in March of 1973. Surveys two years later in early 1975 showed that 86% of the Tusaderi citizens were positive towards the Al-Altabir administration and the "brand new Tusaderi", as many were calling it.

The Tusaderan economy was considerably strengthened following rapid industrial nationalization. Al-Altabir, a stalwart moderate in the fundamental revolutionary government, was concerned of the modernization taking place. Al-Altabir also disagreed on other aspects as per UNISOC conditions, such as an increase of police militarization and centralized administration. The signing of the Global Resources Scheme (GRS) in October of 1975, which sought to aggregate member nation natural resources, outraged Al-Altabir. Pressures continued to mount within the government between moderate and revolutionary elements, as Al-Altabir and his cabinet steadily expressed desires on leaving UNISOC following the introduction of the GRS. This notion endured following deterioration between UNISOC and the EST, and diplomatic pressure from northern neighboring nation Prokhogorsk.

Withdrawal from UNISOC

In July of 1976, Tusaderi was in turmoil after President Al-Altabir declared that the nation shall leave UNISOC. Tensions between Siradia nations continued to rise as trade and diplomacy between nations were severed. While Al-Altabir and the Tusaderan government refused to comply with UNISOC demands, various militant groups began to increase in popularity among the southern regions of Tusaderi, who strongly believed that Al-Altabir had made a "grave mistake" in abandoning UNISOC.

Foundation of the Ushturaq

A large number of those who rebelled against the Al-Altabir government had formed to create the Ushturaq, an armed organization which believed in a pro-Socialist Tusaderi and strongly held onto their traditional nomadic Perasan roots. Much of the Ushturaq was comprised of ex-military, many of which had participated during the 1971 revolution. The majority of equipment, hardware, and weaponry used by the Ushturaq were illegally imported from Kapania. It is believed civilian vessels were used to smuggle shipments of military-grade equipment across the sea to the south to be unloaded at secluded coasts of the south-western Tusaderi. The Ushturaq had exponentially grown between 1976 and 1978, and did so relatively unnoticed as the government focused on external political relations and concerns.

Overthrow of Al-Altabir

Government sources claim that by 1978, the Ushturaq had grown to an approximate size of 150,000 insurgents. This number is believed to be a collective figure of all insurgents scattered across Tusaderi, including pro-Ushturaq rebels (many of which whom would eventually join the fighting alongside the Ushturaq). The Ushturaq began appearing much more publicly in early February, either in the capital of Beisej, or other main cities and towns across Tusaderi.

The first conflict between the Ushturaq and police forces was on the February 2, 1978 where a large group of insurgents opened fire on a police station and surrounding apartment blocks in the town of Abdulek. It is claimed that over 20 police officers and 35 civilians were killed or mortally wounded in the gunfire. Local news reports spread quickly across the nation, and a national emergency was declared by February 3 when unpredictable insurgent attacks became more and more frequent. Ushturaq insurgents were growing in numbers and incidents began occurring outside the capital of Beisej.

It is believed that Ushturaq insurgents arrived at the capital on the morning of the February 6. Rebels who supported the Ushturaq flared attacks internally while the Ushturaq themselves surrounding the city. Over 200 civilians were killed, but the amount of police or Ushturaq casualties is unknown. Al-Altabir managed to escape Beisej by helicopter which sustained small-arms fire from the streets below. The president and a small number of government officials had escaped to a safehouse near Sudalek in northern Tusaderi. The government of Prokhogorsk was aware of the uprising in Tusaderi, but had not been notified of Al-Altabir's escape and were unaware of his status. Al-Altabir's exile signaled an official Ushturaq takeover in the capital, where they seized a substantial number of weaponry and intelligence, and formed a semblance of government.

Prokho intervention

On the morning of February 7, 1978, insurgent forces used the government communication facilities at Beisej to broadcast on international frequencies. This message informed that the Ushturaq were now in control of Tusaderi. Dolzog Nipretina, the standing Prime Minister of Prokhogorsk reacted quickly, shocked by the news and demanding insurgent forces immediately withdraw. On February 21, Nipretina announced that Prokho troops were to be mobilized to neutralize the insurgent threat if they did not cease their occupation. The leader of the Ushturaq, Ogari Al-Binteb, condemned Prokhogorsk for their threat of military action.

The Prokho aggressors are not to interfere with Siradian matters. Their history against us and our people is not forgotten, and it is their blood which will spill into Perasan rivers. It will be the largest mistake that Prokhogorsk will make.
     — Ogari Al-Binteb, February 22, 1978

Nipretina personally met with Aleksy I at Yowbrez Palace early in the morning of February 23. It is reported the two discussed the implications of going to war and how the people would react. The meeting ended briefly after 45 minutes, and Nipretina headed immediately to Manstedten by air, where he attended the scheduled EST Assembly session at approximately noon. Nipretina, joined by his war cabinet, met with leaders of other EST member states. According to Minister of Defence Vadim Slaseyu, the cabinet stressed the importance of defeating the Ushturaq as fast as possible, calling on New Colcha in particular to provide armoured units for desert warfare. Malateria and its armed forces, largely outdated and untrained, were hesitant to take part in the war, but would eventually join Prokhogorsk in defensive operations in 1981. The session ended after 3 hours of negotiations.

On February 25, Nipretina officially authorized the mobilization of military forces and recognized the Ushturaq as a threat to border security and integrity of the region. Mobilizations started the next day, with the majority of troops being transported from Vazhgorskoye or Nartygort. By February 28, all deployed Prokho military units arrived and were stationed south-west of Dubravata at the Prokhogorsk-Tusaderi border.

Baqa'ab Campaign

The first Prokho offensives, supported by New Colchan expeditionary armored forces, began in March of 1978. The objective was to retake the northern Tusaderan territory of Baqa'ab. Prokho forces believed that seizing the regional capital Al Kuhdad early would provide support from the local population, who were majority ethnic Mosumian. The major city would also be a suitable staging ground for a future offensive on the national capital of Beisej.

At 11:30 of March 1, after 3 hours of movement in convoy, elements of the Prokho 5th Army came under small arms fire in the Faizat Pass. Prokho armored vehicles quickly returned fire, and fighting subsided. No one was wounded in the exchange. Prokho forces continued towards Al Kuhdad, vigilant to their mountainous surroundings. At 14:00 the 3rd Army which had moved from the east, south of Faizat Pass, met with the 5th Army around twelve kilometers outside Al Kuhdad. Artillery units from both armies began shelling the suspected hostile town. Shelling continued until 18:20, as 9th Armoured Div., 16th Armoured Div. and a detachment of the 32nd Engineers Bat. moved in on the city. The city with large open areas and wide streets, was cleared by block through the night, as added Prokho forces came to support.