Terehan War
| Terehan War | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Belligerents | |||||
 Al-Fijar | |||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
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 Noa Apekalmoa |
 Abdul Haafil Wakim | ||||
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The Terehan War, also known as the 2022 invasion of Terehan, is an ongoing military conflict between the forces of WEDA and Terehan which began on October 9th, 2022, in response to the Beresa port bombing. Beginning with a series of WEDA airstrikes on Terehan, the war quickly expanded to a wider ground campaign in a Zamastanian-led coalition with the aim of overthrowing the government of Asaad al-Shaad, dismantling the regime's nuclear weapons program, destroying al-Fijar terrorist camps, and restoring an internationally-backed democracy.
Background
Tensions with Terehan
During ancient times, lands that now constitute Terehan were known as Telaanha and were occupied by many kingdoms and empires, notably the Emmirians. Following the Barretoan Wars, Terehan became a democracy, though since the 1930s it had widely been considered authoritarian, and attracted widespread criticism for its significant constraints and abuses against human rights and civil liberties, including several violent suppressions of mass protests, unfair elections, and limited rights for women and for children. In 2018, Asaad al-Shaad became President and began pursuing a nuclear program which many in the international community claimed was a pursuit for a nuclear weapon.
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In June 2022, dozens of foreign nationals (13 Zamastanian, 2 Caspiaan, 1 Haduastani) were arrested in Terehan under suspicion of espionage. Asaad al-Shaad sentenced them to death, which led to international condemnation being levied against the nation's rogue nuclear weapons program, which al-Shaad continued to deny existed. As nations sanctioned Terehan and called for the release of the captives, al-Shaad endorsed the terrorist group Al-Fijar and called on the group to attack "anti-Muslim" nations. The same day, a terrorist inspired by al-Shaad's endorsement carried out a suicide bombing in Helniemi, Caspiaa, killing 28 people. The captives were executed one week after their detention, leading to a near total international block of diplomatic and economic relations with Terehan. On July 10th, a series of bombings struck Oftbon, Elbresia, killing 290 people. The perpetrators were connected to Terehan, and on July 13th, WEDA conducted a string of airstrikes against 14 military facilities in the Terehanian cities of Catahle, Jataran, and Casaat as an act of retribution. The airstrikes led to Terehan releasing 49 other foreign captives who were set for execution, with al-Shaad conceding that WEDA would not pursue further military action if the hostages were released.
On September 9th, al-Shaad admitted to Terehan's nuclear program being used to construct nuclear weapons, and stressed that his country would never abandon the nuclear weapons in order to counter WEDA, which he accused of pushing to weaken the country's defenses and eventually collapse his government. Terehan's legislature passed a law which spelled out conditions where Terehan would be inclined to use its nuclear weapons, including when it determines that its leadership is facing an imminent "nuclear or non-nuclear attack by hostile forces." The law requires Terehan's military to "automatically" execute nuclear strikes against enemy forces, including their "starting point of provocation and the command," if Casaat's leadership comes under attack. The law also says Terehan could use nukes to prevent an unspecified "catastrophic crisis" to its government and people, a loose definition that experts say reflect an escalatory nuclear doctrine that could create greater concerns for neighbors. Al-Shaad also criticized Saint Croix and Bens in particular over its plans to expand its conventional strike capabilities and revive large-scale military exercises with WEDA to counter the growing threats, describing them as a "dangerous" military action that raises tensions.
Al-Shaad was combative toward WEDA in a September 29th speech and urged his country to expand the operational roles of its tactical nuclear weapons, to accelerate their deployment to strengthen the country's war deterrent. Those comments appeared to align with a ruling party decision in June to approve unspecified new operational duties for front-line troops, which analysts say likely include plans to deploy battlefield nuclear weapons targeting rival nations in South Adula. The government also communicated a threat that it could use its nuclear weapons during conflicts with WEDA's conventional forces, which would raise the risk of accidental clashes in such maritime provocations escalating into a nuclear crisis. Terehan had been speeding its development of nuclear-capable, short-range missiles that can target Saint Croix and Bens. However, as of October 2022 the nuclear program was not yet at the capacity to develop a weapon.
Beresa port bombing
| 2022 Beresa port bombing | |
|---|---|
 The aftermath of the bombing at the naval port in Beresa | |
| Location | Beresa Naval Port, Beresa, Saint Croix and Bens |
| Date | October 1st, 2022 8:02 PM |
| Weapons | Ammonium nitrate explosion |
| Deaths | 988 (including the perpetrators) |
Non-fatal injuries | 2,000+ |
| Perpetrator | 6 Terehanian agents |
At 5:09 AM (SCB) on October 1st, 2022, the MIM Rhosis entered Beresa's commercial harbor, where it was checked and authorized for entry by port officials. Cargo records and a sweep check by port officials confirmed a load of chemical substance for factory use in the nearby industrial zone neighboring the port. The Rhosis was permitted to anchor at dock 6A, which sits 2 kilometers across the harbor from the Naval Port. At 5:35 PM, the Rhosis lifted anchor and turned on its engines without consulting port authorities, and began crossing the harbor towards the naval base. Intelligence reports by SCB agencies and the Zamastanian Intelligence Service cited radio communications picked up on channels utilized primarily by Terehanian military personnel in the perimeter of the harbor only an hour prior to the explosion. While the exact location of the communications had not been determined, they did consist of a message in which individuals speaking in Terehanian confirming 'authorization to proceed'. They also confirmed that the radio communications ceased at around the same time that the barge, MNIN Rhosis, left its previously approved anchor point and began crossing the harbor into restricted waters of the naval base. This is believed to have been a confirmation between Terehanian commanders and the crew of the barge to initiate the attack.
Traveling at low speed, the boat's transponder was switched to a 'clear signal' under the SCB military's clearance, and it entered restricted base waters at 7:21 PM. At 7:49 PM, it pulled alongside the Zamastanian cruiser Grouse, adjusting positioning before dropping anchor and powering down. Its crew of six remained on board. At 7:53 PM, SCB and Zamastanian sailors on both the Grouse and the Beresi alerted base authorities that the barge had pulled up alongside the warships, and within moments security personnel arrived to the dock to investigate. One of the Rhosis' crew came out from the cabin and exchanged words with responding security officials, but refused to cast a boarding ladder for the officers to investigate, and refused to pull the boat out of its anchor spot between the warships. An argument ensued, and the crew member reentered the cabin at 7:59 PM. Surveillance footage from just prior to the explosion had been used to identify the crew member who argued with security personnel on the dock as a Terehanian national named Jaadallah al-Farid, a former-member of the Terehanian armed forces.
At 8:01 PM, the barge exploded as a result of the crew members on board detonating explosives with the cargo of ammonium nitrate. The resulting blast engulfed the port, ripping apart the adjoining warships and causing major damage to dozens of nearby vessels docked along the row. The blast sent a red-orange cloud into the air, which was briefly surrounded by a white condensation cloud. The red-orange color of the smoke was caused by nitrogen dioxide, a byproduct of ammonium nitrate decomposition. The explosion shook the central business district of Beresa, where many buildings suffered broken windows. The blast was heard as far away as the SCB capital of Saint Elmenau and the Alecburghish capital of Kynnport. Despite inefficient transmission of the shock waves into the ground, seizmologists measured the blast as a 3.3 local magnitude earthquake. Experts estimated that the explosion was one of the largest artificial non-nuclear explosions ever recorded.
The explosion overturned cars and stripped steel-framed buildings of their cladding. Within the port area, the explosion destroyed a section of shoreline and left a blast crater roughly 124 m (407 ft) in diameter and 43 m (141 ft) in depth. Homes as far as 10 kilometers (6 miles) away were damaged by the blast.
319 sailors on the Grouse were killed, at least half of them instantly, with only 11 survivors. The Beresi suffered 120 dead, with 140 other sailors aboard sustaining injuries. Both ships suffered extensive and compromising damage, and each ship sank and rested on the shallow harbor floor within 15 minutes. Because the crew of warships follow curfews as instated by their navies, most of the sailors were on board their respective vessels at the time of the blast, either in their barracks, mess halls, other recreational areas, or points of duty. The congregation of sailors in confined spaces meant the death toll was greatly increased. The Albarinean frigate AASC Cossland, docked next to the Grouse on the opposite side of the blast, also suffered severe damage and began to list. 49 Albarinean sailors were killed. On the opposite side of the Beresi, the Emmirian destroyer ENVS Baasim was heavily damaged and suffered 23 sailors killed. Several other Zamastanian navy ships were present in the harbor and suffered damage, including the Granet, Jackson, and Loan, and dozens of their crew members suffered injuries including burns and shrapnel punctures. The SCB vessel SCBN Lett was damaged extensively, suffering 60 killed. Another ship, the SCBN Hya, had its bridge face torn off by the pressure of the blast, and 19 of its sailors were killed.
Within the base, many structures including sailor barracks, munitions stores, and other buildings either collapsed or suffered extensive damage. 398 people who were within the base's perimeter (not on vessels) were killed in the blast, either as a direct result of exposure to the blast or from collapsed debris. Beresa-Hett International Airport, the city's main airport, about 10 km (6 mi) from the site of the blast, sustained moderate damage to the terminal buildings during the explosion. Doors and windows were destroyed, and ceiling tiles were shaken loose by the shockwave, severing electrical wires. Despite the damage, flights continued.
The Saint Croix and Bens government placed total deaths at 988.
Initial airstrikes and declaration of war
In the wake of the bombing, Asaad al-Shaad initially denied responsibility, claiming it was an inside job or false flag operation by the SCB government. However, evidence made public by the Zamastanian Intelligence Service and Albarine Intelligence Agency proved beyond doubt that Terehan was responsible. WEDA leaders called for a swift response, unilaterally invoking the Alabaster Treaty's article 5 which assures mutual defense between member states. In the Caspiaan capital of Viitaniemi, WEDA heads agreed to conduct substantial but confined military strikes against Terehanian air defenses and weapons manufacturing sites. On October 9th, the first wave of airstrikes began striking military positions throughout Terehan, carrying out a massive coordinated airstrike campaign against the capital of Casaat, the port cities of Catahle and Jataran, as well as facilities in Olharat. Secretary of Defense Easton Granholm named the campaign "Operation Advocate". Symbolically, SCB bombers were the first to strike, in retaliation for the attack on their nation.
Amid the bombing campaign, al-Shaad mobilized his military and admitted responsibility for the Beresa attack, saying "yes, we ordered the attack on Beresa, because those ships would have begun to attack us regardless of whether we struck them. WEDA has painted us as aggressors and would have killed us today had we not struck a deadly blow. Today, our nation is under invasion, but we will destroy invaders. Our forces are still in control and are fighting valiantly against the invaders," al-Shaad said. "If one WEDA boot of theirs touches the ground, they will be turned to blood. Our citizens, who have been slaughtered in these bombing raids, will survive and fight their attempts of occupation. I will not succumb to ridiculous aversions of theirs to step down, I am this country's hope and future. They will have to kill me to remove me, and they won't get a foot near Casaat, Jataran, Catahle, and our great cities. We will devastate them. They will perish on the rocks of our shores before they step on our sacred fields. Then when we drive them back, we will see their own cities in ruins. Tofino will be ash. Vongane will be rubble. Beresa will be a smoldering crater. Men of Terehan, take our country into your hands and defend it."
By October 13th, WEDA had established an effective no-fly zone over Terehan, and its officials claimed that the Terehanian air force had been near completely destroyed along with the majority of the country's air defense systems. Continued strikes were being flown on hourly occurances from airbases in SCB, Vorrica, and Cyruda, as well as from the Zamastanian carrier groups led by the ZMS Dubois, ZMS Levasseur, and the Quetanan QWS Nicolau Silvestre. On October 15th, Congressional Hall approved a declaration of war against Terehan, which was signed by President Sabine Armitage. The vote was 192-113 along ideological lines, but passed with support of moderate Liberal bloc members. The declaration read: "that the state of war between Zamastan and the Islamic Emirate of Terehan is hereby formally declared; and the President is hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Islamic Emirate of Terehan; and, to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all the resources of the country are hereby pledged by Congressional Hall of the Republic of Zamastan."
Shortly after Zamastan's resolution to declare war, many other WEDA members did the same. Vorrica was the first, with Chancellor Danio Beretta signaling that Vorrican forces would be involved in the upcoming campaign, stating "as a recent but committed member state of WEDA, we are prepared to insert our forces into this righteous conflict. Terehan's horrific regime must be removed from their bundles of power and the threats they persist must be overthrown." Kalea's parliament voted in favor of war 189-68, and Kalea committed 5,000 troops to the impending conflict. Caspiaa's declaration for war passed 397-22, the widest margin for a WEDA member state.