EUROPEAN NEWS - FOREIGN AFFAIRS - ATANEAN QUESTION
TERRORIST ATTACK AGAINST THE ENS "SARDINIA",IN NORTH ATANEAAn explosive boat hits the side of the ship, causing serious damage; attack claimed by extremist monarchist groups
The ENS "Sardinia", badly damaged, immediately after the attack
The situation in Atanea back dramatically to overheat: a terrible and brutal terrorist attack a few hours ago he hit one of the ships of the Navy,the ENS "Sardinia",in the northwest coast of the country,killing 15 crew members,and injuring at least twenty sailors. Make it known official sources from Ministry of Defense and European Navy,as well as official statements of Atanean national security agencies. The investigations by European and Atanean authorities are still in progress,but we can hazard a first reconstruction. Official sources also claim that the attack was claimed by extremists monarchist groups operating in the country,aiming to overthrow the current government to establish an absolute monarchy.
The ENS "Sardinia" is an Arleigh Burke Class missile destrpyer,equipped with the highly advanced Aegis Missile Defense System,and,like all the ships of its Class,together with the Carthage Class multi-mission destroyer,is the backbone of European naval surface forces,equipped with technologically advanced weaponry and equipments,among the best in the world.
European Army units (47th "Greywolf" Cavalry Brigate,36th Cavalry Division,I Army Corps),during patrol operations in snowy areas of the north-western region of Atanea. After the attack,security operations in these areas have been intensified
The ship,after a refueling operation in an European-Atanean military installation nearby,was conducting operations monitoring and patrolling of territorial waters,in the northeast of the country,near the border with Zackalantis. The ship,unlike other occasions,it was not escorted by patrol protection boats,and it wasn't operating as part of a squadron,but it was a solo operation. Moreover,given the quiet of the area,the alert level was minimal.
At 13:00 of today, according to preliminary reports made known to the press,a squadron of 7 speedboats would have approached the ship from multiple directions. The boats would then exceeded the safety limit zone around the destroyer: European sailors on board have followed the common rules of engagement,attempting to establish radio contact,sending sound warnings and firing warning shots. The men on board the boats would then opened fire on the ship with heavy weapons. It would then be born a firefight,which lasted several minutes,between the boats and the European ship: according to the reports,several enemies were killed during the clash,two motorboat would be destroyed by destroyer guns,and several missiles fired from the boats would be destroyed by the Phalanx systems before reaching the ship. The ship then reacted using heavy weapons: in a few moments 4 other boats were destroyed. The last,however,it would be launched at full speed against the side of the ship,causing a large explosion.
An European Navy "Freedom Class" Littoral Combat Ship,during patrol operations after the attack
The explosion has not completely destroyed the ship,thanks to sophisticated and advanced systems for ballistic protection. However, the destroyer was put out of use: with a special ship,the ENS "sardinia" was transported to a nearby European Navy military base,where it will be repaired and where the investigations take place. A few minutes after the explosion, launched the emergency signal was immediately rescued by a wide squadron. The wounded,40 in all,were transported emergency in specialized medical facilities,and are not in danger of death. Are however been confirmed 20 European sailors deaths in the explosion,while all the terrorists were killed in combat. Currently a large combined naval force of European Navy and Atanean Navy is conducting extensive operational activities in that sea area: European Air Force and Atanean Air Forces intensified air patrol actions over the area,while European Army and Marines Corp,in support of local forces,has strengthened the garrisons and patrol operations in the region.
Following the dispatches of Strategic Atanean Allied Joint Military Command (supreme UPS-Atanean military command),which have alarmed the entire Atanean device of national security and defense,the European Armed Forces in Atanea Command has issued an order that put on highest alert all European troops in Atanea,while security operations have been strengthened and maximized.
EUROPEAN AND ATANEAN FORCES TAKE THE INITIATIVEMassive anti-terrorist operation in north-ovest mountainous regions of the countryGoal is the disarticulation of monarchic terrorist groups,considered subversive
Fast assault units during "Cold Response" Operation,from battalions of 82nd Airborne Division (European Army)
Military sources say that,in the mountainous regions in the north-west of Atanea,near the border with Zackalantis,European troops,with the full backing and support of Atanean defense forces,have launched a massive anti-terrorist operation,called
Operation "Cold Response". The declared purpose of this major military operation,the first offensive action by the end of the Liberation war,is the complete disarticulation and destruction of monarchist armed groups,that in the region have their operational bases,because they are considered by Atanean national and local authorities a serious threat to the stability of the country. As repeatedly stated by the leaders of these violent movements,intentions then certified by reliable intelligence data,the main intention of these terrorist groups is the overthrow of the democratic regime established after the collapse of the dictatorship of Snow,to establish an absolute monarchy. Therefore,the main reason behind the
Operation "Cold Response" is to hit and neutralize with decisiveness and speed any threat to the stability of Atanea,before those same threats manifest themselves with violent attacks. Moreover,these groups have already proved their dangerousness,since they are directly responsible for the attack against the ENS "Sardinia",which occurred a few hours before the start of operations.
A squadron of F-16,from 15th Air Wing (Fifth Air Force,European Air Force) during air strikes against terrorist positions
Military sources certify that these groups were already known to European and UPS intelligence since before the start of the Allied invasion: in fact these groups took part in the initial rebellion against the Snow regime,but,unlike all other revolutionary militias (then demobilized or integrated in the Atanean security forces,after the end of the war),they were never funded or supported by Europe or UPS countries. After the collapse of the administration of Snow,these extremist movements,supporters of absolute monarchy,have refused to take part in the national dialogue between the various political forces of the country,mediated by Europe and Allied countries,which then led to the formation of the current Atanean government.
These groups, in contrast, have occupied some military bases and fortifications,abandoned by Snow forces in retreat during the Allied invasion,in the mountainous region,near the border with Zackalantis,rugged, uninhabited and not garrisoned. Here,using remnants of war abandoned by Snow battalions,including heavy weapons,military vehicles and even helicopters,terrorists have started to train and prepare to launch a series of attacks aimed at destabilizing Atanea. For this European and Atanean commands have decided to strike in advance.
European Army units (from "Julia" Mechanized Alpine Division,Alpine Troops Command),during an assault against enemy units
The operations are still underway,and already from the battlefield comes good news: according to sources in fact the enemies would have already lost a lot of ground,and are now in disarray,the victory is a matter of hours. We can then go to analyze the strategy and operational plans of the mission. There has been heavy losses by the enemy,while Allied losses are not reported.
Europe and Atanea hit enemies with a well organized,highly trained,poweful military force,equipped with the some of the most advanced equipment and weapons systems in the world. In particular,European Air Force (35th and 15th Fighter Wing,Fifth Air Force,equipped with F-16,Eurofighter Typhoon "Sky-Shark" and F-30 "Thunderstar" fighters),in the very early stages of the operation,has targeted enemy defensive lines with massive air attacks,characterized by high precision and extreme lethality: these raids have been going on throughout the course of the operations,and still continue. Air Force has deployed an impressive and efficient device for logistical and tactical support operations (from 374th Airlift Wing,Fifth Air Force),and in the area is also an AWACS aircraft (605th Air and Space Operations Center,Fifth Air Force) for operations command and control. Air units (also from European Marines Corp,in particular from 3rd Marine Air Legion),with A-10 fighters and technological advanced attack drones,have also supported ground units with close air support,taking advantage of air superiority to crush enemy resistance quickly. The Navy (from Destroyer Squadron 23) has provided artillery support,with missile attacks extremely lethal, conducted with efficiency and surgical precision.
The real pivot of operations, of course,are Army and Marines Corp ground forces. Deployed in strategic positions,missile artillery are hitting hard the enemy defenses,providing massive fire in the long and short range. The battalions of cavalry,equipped with heavy assault vehicles and tanks,supported by attack helicopters,through multiple lines of attack,they engaged larger enemy forces,thereby trouncing the defensive network,already weakened by artillery and air strikes. At the same time,powerful and fast assault teams,characterized by very quickly thanks to light vehicles and helicopters, are advancing into enemy territory,proceeding to isolate each other enemy units,and to attack and conquer with rapid movements of the various strongholds, one after the other.