Empire Conquest-Chapter 873 - 106: Times Have Changed

Most importantly, the Iraqi army has been defeated.

According to the captured prisoners, this unit was a mechanized infantry brigade under the Nebuchadnezzar Mechanized Infantry Division, deployed to Samawa days ago.

On the morning of that day, they received news that the Alliance Army had breached the border and was advancing towards Sellerman.

After several hours of preparation, the brigade was ordered to head south to intercept the Alliance Army.

No one expected the Alliance Army to advance so quickly, crossing Sellerman by noon, so when encountering the Alliance Army, the brigade was not prepared for combat, and didn’t even manage to deploy their armored forces, remaining passive throughout.

The key was that the brigade’s commander believed the Alliance Army would not attack as a sandstorm was approaching.

This aligned with the war report previously sent by "Zhi-10A".

It can be deduced that the reconnaissance satellites of the Newland Republic discovered the assault force and then the Newland Intelligence Agency relayed the relevant information to the Iraq authorities. Due to the inefficiency of the command system, possibly related to secrecy, the frontline forces received the message hours late.

With Iraq’s reconnaissance system alone, they couldn’t possibly find the Alliance Army’s assault force.

Of course, this also indirectly proves that the Newland Republic has already been indirectly involved in the Boss Bay war, and has replaced the Tiaoman Empire as the largest supporter of the Hussein Regime. However, constrained by the Boi Country, the Newland Republic hasn’t provided substantial support to Iraq.

Perhaps the Newland Authority is actively mediating between these two countries that fought bitterly for eight years.

Then, there must be consideration for the threat from the north, that is, from the Boi Country.

Honestly, this was the most troubling issue for Ding Zhennan when drafting the combat plan.

He only had 3 divisions in total, with severely insufficient forces, and considering the Boi Country, even responding defensively to the threat from the Boi Country would leave the forces far from adequate.

Don’t forget, the size of the Boi Country is three times that of Iraq!

Although the Iran-Iraq War has ended, the Boi Country hasn’t relaxed its defense construction, nor dare to, because on its eastern side is Bakistan, an ally of the Liangxia Empire.

To this day, the standing forces of the Boi Country exceed one million.

Evidently, withstanding an offensive from a million-strong army is no easy task. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

In theory, the Boi Country can mobilize 2.5 million reserves and militia within a month, expanding its forces to 5 million within three months.

Therefore, after careful consideration, Ding Zhennan abandoned the idea of directly attacking Baghdad, deciding first to fight a battle in the southern Iraq region, specifically seizing the crucial Basra, stabilizing the southern situation, and then deploying heavy forces to attack Baghdad.

The critical aspect is that the southern Iraqi region, namely Basra Province and Maysan Province, directly faces the Lowland Province of the Boi Country.

The eight-year Iran-Iraq War almost entirely revolved around the Lowland Province!

After gaining independence, Iraq has always claimed that the Lowland Province in the Two River region is part of its territory, usurped by the Boi Country.

Moreover, the Boi Country gained independence through war, lacking the legal foundation for occupying and controlling the Lowland Province.

According to Iraq authorities, Iraq became independent through international recognition, thus inheriting Ter Republic’s status in the Two River region.

As a result, 10 years ago, the Hussein Regime in Iraq launched a war against the Boi Country based on this claim.

All territorial disputes and legitimacy claims were mere excuses.

The real key was the Lowland Province.

The Lowland Province is the main oil-producing area of the Boi Country, housing several large oil fields, hundreds of kilometers of coastline, and several deep-water ports.

Even though Iraq has ample oil, it needs this long stretch of coastline.

During the eight years of the Iran-Iraq War, massive battles were fought over the Lowland Province by both sides, resulting in heavy casualties and bloodshed.

Even though the Lowland Province was retained, the high-levels of the Boi Country surely have profound memories.

Therefore, after the Iran-Iraq War ended, the Boi Country has been strengthening its defenses in the Lowland Province direction, not only building defensive lines along the border but also deploying large numbers of elite troops there, including three armored divisions affiliated to the guard with a total of 2,000 Main Battle Tanks.

Of course, to the Alliance Army invading southern Iraq, the biggest issue is the lack of defensible terrain.

Honestly, the Iraqi army is well aware of this.

Throughout the Iran-Iraq War, the Iraqi army was desperately attacking, even when in a disadvantaged position overall, they still pursued offensive actions.

The reason is that the neighboring Basra Province and Maysan Province are also plains, making them essentially indefensible.

If there wasn’t an active offense to extend the warfare into enemy territory, allowing a counter-attack by the enemy would make it impossible to defend the homeland front line.

The Iran-Iraq War concluded with Iraq ceasing its offensive and withdrawing from the Lowland Province.

Indeed, Iraq withdrew because it couldn’t continue fighting, having exhausted its forces to the limit and depleted all combat units.

Unable to sustain the offensive, they had to agree to a ceasefire with the Boi Country.

This illustrates, at least geographically, it was very unfavorable to the Alliance Army.

The ideal choice was akin to Iraq of the past, occupying the Lowland Province through an active offense and then engaging in a war of attrition with the Boi army.

Unfortunately, this was simply not feasible.

Knowing it wouldn’t receive approval, Ding Zhennan didn’t mention it at all during the plan drafting, directly ignoring this option.

In Ding Zhennan’s plans, strategic deterrence would be used to deal with the Boi Country.

In simpler terms, by showcasing strong offensive capabilities during their operations in Iraq, the Boi Country leaders would hesitate.

The key is the method producing a "threat" effect.

Aerial strikes are naturally self-explanatory.

In the past two months, the Empire’s Air Force and Navy Air Force have demonstrated through action that even regional powers can’t withstand the Empire’s air power.

Compared to air defense capabilities, the Boi Country fares worse than Iraq.

As for air force, even if the Boi Country receives substantial support from the Newland Republic, purchasing dozens of F-14A and over a hundred third-generation fighters like F-4 and F-5, due to lacking a modern command system, their combat performance is likely nearly indistinguishable from that of the Iraqi Air Force.

Counting on the Newland Republic’s support?

Unless they directly send troops to battle, otherwise the Newland Republic’s support is just empty promises. Conversely, assuming direct military involvement from the Newland Republic, it won’t be much related to the Boi Country.

In fact, during the eight-year Iran-Iraq War, the Boi Air Force never gained much advantage over the Iraqi Air Force.

Honestly, in the quickest scenario, within 10 days, at most half a month, the Alliance Army could completely destroy the Boi Country’s aerial forces and air defense systems, similar to how they dealt with Iraq.

Ground warfare, however, is a different matter.

Compared to Iraq, the Boi Country’s most notable advantage is indeed its vastly larger territory, composed almost entirely of plateaus and mountains.

This was a key factor forcing the Empire’s army to admit defeat and withdraw after fighting fiercely in the Boi Country for over a decade.

Yet, circumstances have changed.

The critical aspect concerns the strategic level.

More than 20 years ago, the Liangxia Empire intervened to prevent the Boi region from declaring independence, thus having to occupy and control the entire Boi Plateau.

Now, the sole aim is to weaken the Boi Country, enhance control over Boss Bay, and solidify influence in the New Moon Region.

If the Alliance Army can swiftly sweep through southern Iraq, it can demonstrate to the Boi authorities that the Alliance Army can similarly conquer the Lowland Province.

Of course, just occupying the Lowland Province would be sufficient.

Based on the approach previously adopted by the Alliance Army, focusing on air strikes, the Boi Country simply cannot withstand the impacts from the war.

Frankly, the Alliance Army can completely destroy the Boi Country through bombing, without ground warfare, especially not in environments favoring the Boi army.

Consequently, the Boi Country can’t defeat the Alliance Army through a war of attrition.

Evidently, the Alliance Army can bomb the Boi Country back to the Stone Age with minimal cost!

If truly the case, what benefits does participating in the war offer?

Therefore, Ding Zhennan emphasized repeatedly that the first phase of ground warfare, the operational action sweeping through southern Iraq must be swift and decisive.

However, as it stands, it seems unlikely to proceed smoothly.