Russian Invasion of Israel
The
Russian Federation launched a massive invasion force onto territories under the control of
Israel. The Russian military was supported by Chinese economic and military backing. The rushed nature of the invasion helped it remain discreet and most of Israel was captured before any response could be sufficiently prepared. Most of the territory was assigned to
Palestine.
The Conflict
Prelude
In the year 2035, People's Republic of China officially came out to support the claims of Palestine over the territory then held by Israel. The result was mass condemnation by the The United States of America.
Through 2035 and 2036, the United Nations Security Council called forth multiple meetings to discuss the legality of the territory, but no agreement was formed. Following the Trump administration, most US-allies of the time had formally recognised Israel as the legitimate owner of the city of Jerusalem, with little major opposition. However, in 2036, China and Palestine walked out of a meeting when the French delegate stated: "With Jerusalem out of the picture, we could maybe negotiate for the Gaza Strip and the surrounding lands?". The Chinese stated that rescinding the Palestinians' right to Jerusalem was deeply offending to their country.
On 27th September 2037, the Canadian based American Continental News Network raised questions against the Russian troop buildup in Syria, despite the recent declaration of peace in the region and also raised questions against Russian naval exercises in the Mediterranean. The United States warned the Russian Federation of action if the troops interceded on any sovereign territory. It was widely believed at the time that Russia was preparing a hostile takeover of Kurdistan, which had been established post the Syrian Civil War.
On 27 October 2037, the Russian troops invaded Israeli territory on three fronts. The troops marched through Tel Aviv, Eilat and Ein Zivan for the initial invasion. Accompanying the Russian troops were disguised Chinese troops as well, though this was not apparent till mid-2038.
The Russian and Chinese military initially deployed over 200,000 soldiers and associated armoured divisions in total. Around 50,000 soldiers were landed on the western coast of Israel. 125,000 soldiers proceeded through Syria and invaded the country through the disputed northern border. 15,000 were navally inserted into the narrow southern coast. 10,000 were air-dropped to support the invasion and hamper supply and communication lines. 25,000 soldiers allied with the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam also pledged to support the Russian and Chinese led forces and assisted the invasion. 20,000 Turkish soldiers were also deployed. Besides, Iran and Qatar supported the invasion with technological and economic aid. All in all, nearly 245,000 soldiers were deployed by the invasion force.
Though the Israeli Defence Forces had, at that time, had nearly 700,000 soldiers, only 200,000 active personnel were deployed. These were scattered and unprepared compared to the invasion force. The swift disabling of communication lines resulted in delays in the deployment of reserve forces. The initial capture of major cities and supply ports allowed the defenders to dig in and weather out a larger force, as it was undersupplied and lacked morale. The capture of military factories also allowed the Russian forces to control the production of weaponry. Since Israeli forces were more dependent on equipment made in Israel, American air-drops provided them with weaponry they were unfamiliar with.
80,000 troops were deployed by an American-led coalition, however by the time the troops were deployed most major ports and supply chains had been lost and were being fiercely defended. Additional Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigade deployment and guerilla warfare resulted in the American forces pulling out, fearing a Vietnam-like scenario.
The war took place along three distinct types of terrain. The most intense fighting took place in the vast desert strips, where the Israeli reserve forces staged the first prepared defences and the American-led coalition engaged their first counter-offensives in. These involved roads and valleys. The terrain allowed the defensive forces a huge advantage as they could effectively "dig in" and prepare for the offensive forces to advance. The natural barriers meant that the defensive forces did not have to commit to any specific location and weather long-range mortar or artillery fire.
Surprisingly, incurring the least casualties, the naval battles that the American and Russian forces took place in were few and far between. The Russian navy took a hit-and-run approach to the larger U.S. deployed forces. This allowed most of the 80,000 troops to be deployed successfully. These battles took place in the Mediterranian as well as several inland waterways where smaller naval transport had been deployed. Naval fire-support played a crucial role in the Russian offensives.
The urban warfare was few and far, as the initial invasion forces very swiftly took Tel Aviv and proceeded to systematically take down Israeli urban centres using a combination of siege tactics, cutting off supply chains and effectively "waiting for the defence out". waiting for their surrender as the troops and civilians started starving. In certain situations, the civilians rose up against the defensive forces because of their desperation.
The battles fought in the initial stages of the conflict inflicted heavy damage on the Israeli Defense Forces. As the Russian-led invasion captured key cities, the Israeli forces organised a defensive along with the reserve reinforcements. In response, the Iranian and Turkish forces staged massive attacks on the supply-chains, capturing tracts of roads and setting up checkpoints to prevent Israeli food and ammunition through. The result was the mass starvation of Israeli cities. The soldiers fought in terrible conditions as the cities, already under the brunt of refugees, had to support large military groups. As the American forces landed, the invasion force was now defending its newly won cities. However, they managed to hold on to the supply roads with clever and brutal guerilla tactics. American forces were often surrounded with manoeuvring and forced to break up in order to find their way into the friendly-controlled territory. With the American retreat, the Russian forces were rewarded a huge boost in morale.
Start Date
26th October, 2037
Ending Date
1st January, 2039
Conflict Result
The State of Palestine was given control of most of the former-Israeli territory. A small strip of land called the "Zionist Strip" was ceded to Israel. The Zionist Strip borders Syria.
Russian Invasion Force
Led by
120,000 Russian military personnel
80,000 Chinese military personnel
40,000 Izz ad-Din al-Qassam military personnel (25,000 initial + 15,000 post-American counteroffensive)
20,000 Turkish military personnel
~5,000 Syrian soldiers
By the time the American counter-offensive was launched, only around 15,000 Russian-led soldiers were killed. With American intervention, casualties started mounting up. By the time of the American retreat, nearly 80,000 soldiers had been killed. Final numbers are stated to be around 85,000 soldiers dead and a further 35,000 injured.
To "liberate" all "Israeli-occupied" territory
Israeli Defense Forces
Led by
200,000 active personnel when the invasion began
500,000 reserve personnel that assisted in setting up a scattered defense
Nearly 300,000 soldiers were killed and a further 100,000 injured
To defend Israeli territory
American-led Counter Offensive
Led by
40,000 American military personnel
20,000 Indian military personnel
15,000 British military personnel
~6,000 Iraqi military personnel
(Note: The United States had pledged more numbers, but fearing a Vietnam-like situation, it retreated before the same could be deployed)
~25,000 soldiers were killed
~10,000 soldiers were injured
To "liberate" the lands invaded by the Russians
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