2019 Spring Offensive

The **2019 Spring Offensive** was an invasion of mostly Middle Eastern territories by the Buhriz Movement.

## Background

Prior to the Offensive, the Buhriz Movement promoted the vision of a united, independent Middle Eastern coalition with its own governing body, free of external influences.

In order to go achieve this vision, the Movement deemed it necessary to secure a foothold in neighbouring territories. Although the currently occupied ground by the Movement was large (considered enough by external observers to rival ISIL at its peak), the Movement was unconvinced that there was enough land to continue spreading their ideals.

In 2018, an ambush in Diyala that led to the massacre of civilians caused strong anti-Western sentiments to grow in the region. The Movement took advantage of this to recruit followers and promote themselves.

## Preparations

The Buhriz Movement was well aware that a conventional attack would provoke Western countries present in the region. Thus, the Movement relied on being able to secure a foothold in the regions quickly, before shifting in supplies to allow for a defensive war. The Movement hoped to repeat the results of the Vietnam War and Soviet-Afghan War where the major powers were forced to leave after deeming the region not worth holding, with far lesser casualties in mind.

The Movement readied a combined total of roughly 300 armoured pieces, 1,200 vehicles, 15,000 infantry of various branches and at least 50 aircraft for the initial assault phase along the borders of these regions. In some regions, security forces were outnumbered 50:1. The vehicles were moved at night individually on different paths to deceive possible surveillance drones, with rubber mats to disguise the thermal signatures. The overall operation took roughly 2 months before the Movement would begin their assault.

The operation to move the vehicles and equipment at night was deemed an overall success, with Western-sympathising informants being able to identify the build-up as late as a week before the invasion. The information was dismissed as being "deceiving", with the informants only aiming to sell "false intel for quick cash".

## Timeline

26 February: The Buhriz Movement crosses the border in a single coordinated push into multiple regions.

27 February: Outposts in Lythium go offline. Task Force Badger is deployed to investigate the radio silence. Western powers in nearby regions are made aware of this as early as 2 hours after Task Force Badger is deployed.

28 February: International attention is drawn to the Buhriz Movement

1 March: A coalition is formed to stem the Buhriz Movement assault. The coalition begins to move into various occupied regions.

3 March: An assault force is rallied to begin a spearhead into Lythium.

7 March: An airfield assault is conducted to secure a foothold in Lythium, the operation is carried out successfully.

15 March: Diyala is declared secure. Coalition forces use Diyala as a base to move into Fallujah.

5 May: Fallujah is declared secure. The city is clear of conventional Buhriz Movement forces, but insurgents continue to remain in the city.

12 May: Lythium is declared secure.

13 May: Anizay is declated secure.

14 May: Coalition forces advance into Takistan, the Buhriz Movement's final stronghold.

23 May: Coalition forces declare occupied regions secured.

## Aftermath

Following the end of the Offensive, investigations were launched to figure out how the Movement was able to amass a large invasion without prior warning. The investigations ultimately concluded that the training provided by Western countries and PMCs were the main factor.

Another investigation was launched regarding the dismissal of the Buhriz Movement build-up on the border. This resulted in a manhunt for Willis Stockwell.

## Trivia

* The Offensive marked the first time the Buhriz Movement showed up as an enemy faction in the Awtoh-verse.
* The 2019 Spring Offensive is the first campaign that was properly tracked in the Awtoh-verse.