Middle Eastern tyrants

Chapter 91 Convergence
"The latest battle damage report is out." Ibrahim compiled the reports from various units into a booklet and handed it to Lu Lin.

Lu Lin took the documents and quickly scanned them, his brows immediately furrowing: "How could the losses be so severe?"

Judging from the progress of the battle, he thought his side had the advantage.

"The Zionists made thorough defensive preparations, and we were advancing almost under heavy fire."

Ibrahim pointed to the map and explained, which was densely marked with red and blue arrows, and several key strongholds were surrounded by symbols representing casualties: "Moreover, putting aside the air support just now, the Zionians are indeed superior in terms of equipment and the quality of their soldiers."

That's why the US's support was so effective; it opened up a breakthrough for them.

Lu Lin rubbed his chin, thinking to himself, "If only there were a few more waves of support like this."

An explosion suddenly rang out outside the command post, making the canvas tent rattle. Several staff officers instinctively shrank their necks.

Lu Lin turned to Ibrahim: "The Zionians retreated into the city, trying to use street fighting to offset our artillery advantage, right?"

“That’s right.” Ibrahim nodded. “I suggest we adopt a siege tactic to cut off the enemy’s supply lines.”

With their reserves, they won't last more than a few days before collapsing.

In fact, Ibrahim's idea was correct: to seek stability.

However, Lu Lin had other considerations in mind. Siege warfare was a battle of attrition, and it would take at least three to five days.

Given the operational characteristics of Arab armies, their own front lines might collapse before the Zionians even fall.

At that point, Zion forces will be free to support Al-Iraq's 38th Division, making the situation even more passive.

To win, you must be both fast and steady.

Lu Lin pondered for a moment: "I will personally command the artillery on the outskirts of the city and have the reconnaissance battalion contact the Galam guerrillas to mark the enemy's location for us."

All tanks in the armored brigade were equipped with blast-proof grilles and mine-clearing plows, and the brigade adopted a combined arms tactic to clear out the enemy street by street.

If you encounter a building that obstructs your view, demolish it immediately!

Since the Zionites couldn't withstand the artillery barrage, they decided to maximize their advantage.

The enemy wanted to engage in urban warfare to wear them down, but he refused to follow the Zionists' plan.

Urban buildings not only obstruct the artillery's firing arc but also expand the minimum firing range blind spot. Therefore, Lu Lin's countermeasure is simple and brutal: destroy any obstacles he encounters, since his artillery is accurate anyway.

Ibrahim looked worried: "But in this way, the people of Ghanam will suffer even greater losses."

Lu Lin's gaze was as firm as iron: "As long as people are alive, there is hope."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

When the tanks of the Shuangzhi Hammerhead Battalion advanced to the third line of defense in Zion, they discovered that the enemy's armored forces had all retreated back into the city.

As the main vanguard of the armored brigade, the Hammerhead Battalion suffered the heaviest casualties in the two assaults, with less than twenty tanks still capable of fighting.

Taking advantage of a break in the engineers' mine-clearing work, the T-22 commander leaned out of the turret, unable to hide his pride: "This time we took out two machine gun positions and an anti-tank team! We'll definitely be rated as an ace crew when we get back!"

"What's so special about an ace crew?" Lieutenant Harry of the T-14 scoffed, showing off his achievements: "We took out two bunkers head-on! Shells went right through the firing ports on the front, sending all those Zion scum inside flying! Damn, if there were any reporters, they should have filmed it for you!"

"It's good enough that we survived." The commander of another tank said lazily, "May the Major General bless us, I'm going to Umluzh for vacation after the war." Hearing this, the commander of the T-22 silently took out a feather from his chest.

Seeing this, the other commanders also took out similar amulets.

Judging from their color, they should all come from the same eagle.

"May the Major General protect us," everyone silently prayed in their hearts.

Suddenly, Colonel Bandar's voice came over the radio: "New order from the Major General! All crews must immediately install blast-proof grilles. After resupply, proceed into the city to wipe out the Zionists!"

The tank commanders of the Hammerhead Battalion exchanged glances and responded in unison, "Yes, sir!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Colonel Bandar personally commanded the M60A1 tanks that were the first to enter the southeastern industrial area. The streets were devastated, and charred corpses hung high on lampposts, a shocking sight.

"These Zion bastards!" the driver said bitterly.

Bandar gazed at the ruins and said calmly, "This is the significance of our aid to Al-Irag. Some disasters cannot be ignored just because they haven't happened to us. Otherwise, one day, everything that happened in Ghanam will be repeated in Shuangzhi."

The major general understood this principle perfectly.

The driver nodded in agreement and gripped the steering wheel tightly.

The vanguard had just completed its deployment in a few blocks when the Galam guerrillas, following the sound of tank engines, arrived. They were dressed in mixed clothing and had white strips of cloth tied around their arms.

After confirming the code, the guerrilla captain rushed to the tank and shouted, "Are you Shuangzhi's brothers?"

“It’s us, Rafik,” Bandal leaned out of the turret, “we’ve come to help you drive out the parasites of Zion!”

The guerrilla squad members cheered upon hearing this. For days, they had been ravaged by Zion's tanks, and now, seeing the iron-gray main battle tanks, they were finally no longer afraid.

The guerrilla squad leader couldn't hide his excitement: "Thank you for crossing the border to lend a helping hand to Ghanam!"

“The blood ties between Arab brothers are thicker than water,” Bandar said. “We have always stood on the same side in the face of the Zion scum.”

The captain looked at his comrades hanging from the streetlight, his eyes filled with determination: "Let the guerrillas be your guides! We know this city much better than the Zionians do; we know all the important streets like the back of our hand!"

Bandar added, "But I have to remind you of one thing: in order to provide the artillery with a firing line of sight, we need to blow up the building, and if there are residents, you have to evacuate them in advance."

“We’ve moved most of the residents to the sewers.” The guerrilla captain nodded and said, “Look around you. The scum of Zion has destroyed everything here. We have nothing left to lose.”

We'd be willing to flatten as many buildings as we want to wipe them out!

Bandar's brow relaxed upon hearing this; the cooperation of the locals made the task much easier.

"Then let's move out," he ordered over the radio: "Attention crews, deploy into formation as planned, advance in coordination between infantry and tanks, and call for support immediately if you encounter a firing point."

From this moment forward, let's drive every single Zionist out of this city!

The captain nodded, and the guerrillas quickly dispersed around the tanks, their figures naturally blending into the ranks, like rivers flowing into the sea.

(End of this chapter)