Operation Afton
| Operation Afton | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Zalluabed civil war | |||||
_in_September_2014.JPG) Albarinean Z-11 Eagles take off from the ZMS Abotsford to strike Kubani Unit targets, December 2023 | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
 WEDA  ANS |
 People's Republic of Qahaza | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
 Sabine Armitage  Akram Sulaiman  Sadie Melhaven  Tullia Grönberg  Emília Medeiros  Mohammed Farhan  Elihu Saing  Wira Santoso  Akkin Gunaydin  Elisabeth Rademacher  Alexander Desende  Dan Haugen  Lynne Bushore |
Suhaib el-Dar Moussa Awni el-Hameed Khaleefa el-Abdi Badr Ozer | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| Multiple anti-aircraft defenses, airforce assets, and army vehicles, artillery, and tanks damaged or destroyed | |||||
Operation Afton is the codename for an international military operation in Zalluabed's separatist Qahazar region which began on November 30th, 2023, following a series of drone attacks across the Tarijar Strait and Saint Raneau by the Kubani Unit, led by Suhaib el-Dar Moussa. It is named for the Offeatean word meaning "evening". The mission authorized member states to establish and enforce a no-fly zone over the People's Republic of Qahaza, and to use "all necessary measures" to prevent attacks on civilians, which turned into a bombing campaign by the forces of WEDA and ANS against Kubani Unit military installations and vehicles. The coalition's objectives did not include aiding the rebel forces' efforts to take control of territory held by the government or PRQ.
On 30 November 2023, several countries prepared to take immediate military action at a summit in Viitaniemi, and. operations commenced on the same day with a strike by Emmirian, Albarinean, and Normarkian fighter jets, then Zamastanian and Quetanan forces conducting strikes from ships and submarines via cruise missiles and air assets bombing Moussa's forces near Kubani, Tuim, and Toutmoul.
Background
Deployed forces
- Elbresian Armed Forces
- Elbresian Navy
- Clarkson-class carrier ESS Cormac Cowpeland
- Frigate ESS Olyn
- Frigate ESS Connaghyn
- Elbresian Navy
- Emmirian Armed Forces
- Emmirian Navy
- Naheera-class carrier ENVS Qayyom
- Corvette ENVS Kanoun
- Corvette ENVS Nushanjah
- Corvette ENVS Akhalra
- Corvette ENVS Mashaid
- Frigate ENVS Arreba
- Frigate ENVS Zaqaz
- Destroyer ENVS Mutasim
- Destroyer ENVS Rushdi
- Emmirian Air Force
- 12 Kowsir-2
- 8 Z-17 Condor
- Emmirian Navy
- Kyti Defense Forces
- Kytian Navy
- Destroyer KNS Saint Boswell
- Kytian Navy
- Quetanan Armed Forces
- Quetanan Navy
- Frigate QNAV Netuno Siqueira
- Frigate QNAV Ivo Bettencourt
- Frigate QNAV Alex Bastos
- Frigate QNAV Noemí Sequeira
- Corvette QNAV Manel Lobo
- Corvette QNAV Carlito Mendez
- Submarine QNAV Ronalla
- Quetanan Air Force
- Quetanan Navy
- Zamastanian Armed Forces
- Zamastanian Naval Forces
- Talon-class carriers ZMS Abotsford and ZMS Dubois
- Cruiser ZMS Sundress
- Cruiser ZMS Winterschede
- Destroyer ZMS Adnet
- Destroyer ZMS Émilien
- Destroyer ZMS Saunier
- Destroyer ZMS Shorthand
- Destroyer ZMS Gounelle
- Destroyer ZMS Coquelin
- Corvette ZMS Marhe
- Corvette ZMS Galloway
- Corvette ZMS Houghton
- Submarine ZMS Corriveau
- Zamastanian Air Force
- 4 Z-14 Osprey multi-role fighters
- 8 Z-17 Condor multi-role fighters
- 2 I-22 Moon strategic bombers
- 5 V-99 Eclipse Aerial Refueling Tanker/Airlift Aircraft
- 18 Toring-1C Black Owl drones
- Zamastanian Naval Forces
Timeline
November 30
WEDA and ANS announced the beginning of military operations over Qahazar and the implementation of a no-fly-zone, warning the Zakaraban-based military regime to refrain from intervening. The first main strike involved the launch of 112 cruise missiles from Zamastanian, Quetanan, and Elbresian ships against shoreline air defenses of the Qahaza Brigade. The first round of aircraft sorties began when Albarinean Z-11 Eagles, Emmirian Kowsir-2s and Z-17 Condors, and Normarkian Jas 39 Gripen fighter jets operating from the airbase in Tarijibar and the ENVS Qayyom struck targets in the city of Kubani, including a series of warehouses reported to be storing ammunition and rockets from Suhaib el-Dar Moussa's militant stockpiles, and a series of launch pads from which the kamikaze drones had been fired.
Sustained anti-aircraft fire erupted in Tuim at around 22:33 local time. Three I-22 Moon bombers targeted 45 hardened aircraft shelters at an airfield near Toutmoul. At the same time, Zamastanian Air Force fighter jets conducted missions searching for Kubani Unit ground forces to attack. Electronic warfare Z-11s jammed Moussa's radar and communications.
Admiral Christopher Gest, the commander in charge of Operation Afton, states that there would be continuous allied air cover over Qahazar, and that the no-fly zone "is effectively in place". A V-99 Eclipse was recorded warning a shipping vessel "If you attempt to leave port, you will be attacked and destroyed immediately."
2 Albarinean AV-44 Varries intercept and guide away a Royal Zalluabed Air Force IL9-Ibis near the coast of Tuim.
December 1
Three Zamastanian Z-17 Condors and an Emmirian Kowsir-2 were on a mission to strike an airfield east of Tuim. While en route, an AEW aircraft alerted them to the presence of two Qahaza Brigade IL5-Nightjars. One of the Condors quickly locked on to one off the IL5s, and launched two short range air-to-air missile. The first missile brought down the IL5, with the second hitting the falling wreckage. Another Condor downed the other IL5 with a missile, with the whole engagement lasting forty seconds. The aircraft proceeded to bomb the airfield, destroying a confirmed 9 aircraft and several vehicles on the ground.
Reactions and criticism
There has been criticism over the handling of the operation and the belief that the Armitage administration failed to adequately consult Congressional Hall ahead of the first strikes. The Armitage administration defended its handling of the Zalluabed crisis, drawing a clear line between military and political objectives. Secretary of State Chantelle Carson told reporters "We are not engaged in militarily-driven regime change. Instead, the administration is engaged in time-limited, scope-limited action with other countries to protect civilians as well as our allies from forces loyal to el-Dar Moussa."