"Let the blood flow! If there is still blood in your veins. At dawn, take up arms, seize the high ground, and kill the enemy like eagles..."
An old cassette player in the room was playing "Tamatanttilay" by the Tuareg band Tinariwen, but the lyrics were a stark contrast to reality.
Their guns were no match for the enemy's, and they were killed by the enemy like eagles.
The flowing blood seeped into the desert, but could not irrigate any flowers.
"We were wrong. We shouldn't have ambushed them tonight."
After a long sigh, Tequadeda took the blame.
No one expected that their invincible tactics would fail this time; their enemy was more troublesome than the government forces and the Germans.
It's no wonder that the other side was able to completely defeat the Nasser independence movement. This PMC company is strong not only in weaponry and equipment, but also in tactics and planning.
On the eve of their attack, they were extremely focused on defense, breaking through several of their counter-attacks.
Tequidda could already imagine how difficult the siege would be, with many of the tribe's warriors perishing at Kedar.
As for simply handing this place over, that's unacceptable to everyone. They might as well just disband their Azawad and go back to singing and herding.
It's often said that since the invention of the Maxim machine gun, nomadic peoples have become more adept at singing and dancing, but this applies to large and powerful nations; it doesn't quite apply to third-world countries.
The government forces had guns and cannons, but the Tuareg people did too, and their firepower was even stronger. However, this time they had met their match.
"Chief, we underestimated them. Heavy equipment wasn't very effective against them, but Kidal is our home ground."
The deputy said from the side.
“We will make sure they never return, no matter the cost.”
They are aware that attempting to divide the territory and establish a Tuareg state will result in deaths.
"Then go down and prepare, lay all the anti-tank mines."
Tequadda was also prepared for a fight to the death.
Their anti-tank mines are also a legacy of Colonel Gaddafi; the Libyans had defensive measures in place for the famous pickup truck war of the last century.
The engineers had already laid anti-tank minefields, but the high-speed pickup trucks passed through the minefields as if they were nothing, and the ground pressure of the four tires was simply not enough to detonate the old-fashioned mines with poor sensitivity.
Having suffered a setback, Gaddafi naturally wouldn't use these anti-tank mines again. However, in the eyes of the Tuareg people, who all used pickup trucks and didn't believe in the T-62s, these were the best anti-tank mines.
Their pickup trucks can't be crushed, but the big eight-wheeled trucks of the Germans and the tracked vehicles of Jihuo Defense can blow them up with a single run!
"These guys have started planting landmines."
Looking at the satellite photos, Xia Yu looked up at Henry and asked him a question.
"Yes, and most of them are anti-tank mines. They want to delay our ground troops, but does that render their pickup trucks useless?"
Henry was unaware of that classic battle; anti-tank mines produced in the late 20th century had solved this problem, so even all-terrain vehicles could explode if they ran over a pickup truck.
Xia Yu, who had specifically taken extra lessons, knew what the other party was planning, but in the face of absolute strength, all efforts were in vain.
"Let's not talk about that. Minefields will definitely hinder ground advances. Do you have any contingency plans?"
"The Niger garrison will provide two Sovim-2 mine-clearing vehicles, and your company's Leclerc ARV is equipped with the K2D mine-clearing kit, so we can only clear mines while pushing them away."
The French only use wheeled platforms in Afica, and when they see that Jihuo Defense has two Leclercs, their rank-and-file soldiers are definitely envious.
But if you make them maintain and repair it themselves, they'll start complaining and grumbling that wheeled vehicles are better!
"Then let's start by moving into the southern city where the stabilization team is located, eliminating all threats, and then establishing a temporary camp."
Xia Yu revised the original battle plan.
Without minefields, resupply during combat is not a problem, but once anti-tank minefields are deployed, the advance speed is slowed down, and resupply becomes very important.
What about the security of the temporary camp?
Henry asked Xia Yu.
The Tuareg rocket launchers were destroyed, but they still had a considerable number of mortars.
Even a 60mm caliber round is deadly in urban warfare; a single hit can destroy an armored unit.
"Our armed helicopters will prioritize clearing all artillery targets. Secondly, during non-offensive phases, our two armed reconnaissance drones will patrol with live ammunition and destroy any targets they find!"
Private military contracting businesses can't operate without taking risks. Even if a CH-4 is shot down by a short-range air defense missile from the Azawad Coordination Movement, they can still seek compensation from the French.
As for Old Deer Tiger and Longbow Cross Deer, Xia Yu was even less worried, because this time he planned to implement a tactic of luring the snake out of its hole, and the bait was a CH-4.
After all, one of them had already been destroyed, and the Germans would definitely be reluctant to use the MQ-9.
Even if the Tuaregs used a second-hand Sparrowhawk B that the other party had just delivered, they might not be interested and wouldn't want to waste a Rattlesnake.
The CH-4, priced at less than $4 million, is the best option and is worth firing at Azawad Coordinated Movement.
"Then once your mine-clearing vehicles are in place, we will officially begin the operation."
"Can!"
The two finalized the time for the operation.
Meanwhile, the more than 2,000 people at the base got busy transporting various supplies to a village 20 kilometers away from Kidal.
The residents of Kedar who stayed in the village to see when the bombing would end and they could go back had completely given up hope; the war was far from over!
The villagers of Azawadtu Areg also reported this information to Kidar.
This put both sides on edge. Anti-aircraft gunners and anti-tank units repeatedly practiced their counterattack procedures, hoping to achieve results in the actual battle and win this war for the organization and the tribe.
"Buzz"
The heavy trucks brought the tanks and infantry fighting vehicles of the concentrated fire defense to the village, a privilege not even afforded to the village guards' BTR-82s or the Germans' VBCIs.
"It looks like a tractor."
Xia Yu looked at the Sovim-2 mine-clearing vehicle that had arrived in place and said.
"I think so too. It's not very good-looking, and the protection is also very poor. Its cab can only block bullets, not even an RPG."
Henry said with a hint of helplessness.
"Tom, help them weld slat armor onto these two minesweepers."
Xia Yu shouted to the platoon leader of the C platoon of the 1st Company of the village protection team.
"For RPG protection, slat armor is more effective than add-on armor."
"Thank you so much, Mr. Sherlock."
Henry said gratefully.
Xia Yu did this good deed mainly because he didn't want the Chinese to hold them back.
These mine-clearing vehicles have one on each side; if one of them breaks down, the advance will be hindered.
Even if the main force of the concentrated fire defense can break in and out seven times, unafraid of being surrounded by the Tuareg, it is still very difficult to maintain the offensive rhythm.
Adding an extra layer of slat armor can greatly increase the survival rate of two mine-clearing vehicles.
"You're welcome. We'll launch a night raid tonight."
Xia Yu had communicated with the other party beforehand, and Henry knew about his plan to lure the enemy out.
"That's for the best, those damn rattlesnakes have been holding us back for far too long."
Henry had no fondness for the domestically produced missiles in the hands of the Tuareg, and he hoped that Concentrated Fire Defense could wipe out the remaining short-range air defense missiles.
"Calling alpacas, this is Weasel. How's the situation over there?"
Xia Yu called Wang Kai directly.
The control stations for both the Howling Eagle and the Mighty Eagle were located in Busa, but both CH-4s were deployed at the forward-deployed Oga airfield, sharing maintenance teams with the three fighter jets.
"This is an alpaca. The howling eagle has completed its ammunition loading and is ready to take off for combat at any time."
Beside the drone, looking at the four AR-1 missiles mounted under its wings, Wang Kai reported to Xia Yu.
"Take off immediately and proceed to the airspace near Kidal, awaiting further orders."
Xia Yu issued the order.
The purpose of carrying four anti-tank missiles was to provoke the Azawad Coordination Movement. Even if the other side didn't take the bait, it wouldn't matter; he could still make money off the missiles.
But once you take the bait, you'll pay a heavy price.
"Yes, boss!"
Xia Yu, having ended the communication, also looked towards the Longbow Cross Deer, where maintenance personnel were attaching missiles to the outermost pylon of the attack helicopter.
This is a CM-502kg, which weighs about the same as the 9m120 Ataka. Calling it a Red Longbow Hellfire is a bit of an exaggeration for the Hellfire, since it can only fire at a range of about 10 kilometers at most.
This "super glue" has the same performance specifications as the Spike NLOS missile, which is also the most powerful anti-tank missile possessed by Jihuo Defense.
A Longbow Crossbow is armed with four rounds. If the Rattlesnake firing unit in Azawad's coordinated movement dares to show itself, it will be taken out from outside the firing range.
Night fell quickly, and a new moon hung in the sky.
The once bustling city of Kedar has lost its vibrancy, with only the area around the refugee camp remaining somewhat noisy. In the eastern, northern, and western districts, only armed militants are still planting mines with flashlights in hand.
"Hala, when do you think the enemy will come?"
During a break, the young man who was planting the mines asked the veteran next to him a question.
"They're only 20 kilometers away from us. They might just rush into the city tonight, and then boom!"
The veteran named Hala suddenly spread his arms wide, like a landmine exploding.
Yes, they came to deliver…
"Boom!"
Before the young man could finish speaking, a missile fell from the sky and struck the handcart next to them, which was full of anti-tank mines.
The violent explosion engulfed two people and also shocked everyone.
"call out"
The low-flying CH-4 fired a second AR-1, targeting another engineer team.
"Boom!"
After the loud explosion, smoke rose more than ten meters high from the detonated anti-tank mine.
The Roaring Eagle crew then continued to climb, flying above the firing altitude of the portable anti-aircraft missiles.
"Beep beep"
The fastest-reacting anti-aircraft gunner raised the SAM-24 on his back in the direction from which the missile's exhaust plume came, but the seeker head couldn't lock onto the target at all.
"They used anti-tank missiles, but the attack was launched against their drones."
"What should we do? Our Arrow-2M and Needle series can't take down the target."
"Let's send the Sidewinder in then, we still have two missiles left!"
After quickly exchanging intelligence and opinions, the Azawad Coordination Movement came up with a plan.
Shooting down a drone is a good idea in this situation. Although I'd like to keep it to deal with their attack helicopters, portable anti-aircraft missiles are enough to deal with those low-flying killers.
"Quickly, quickly, bring the launch vehicle out!"
Once the order was given, the Sidewinder launcher was driven from the house into the yard.
"Beep beep beep"
Directly above the village camp, a rapid alert sounded from the cockpit of the Longbow Crossbow, indicating that the masttop radar had made a discovery.
All vehicle targets on the screen are marked, but only one matches the signal characteristics of the Sidewinder missile launcher.
So it's you.
"call out"
A CM-502kg missile detached from its mounting bracket and accelerated to Mach 1.1 in just a few seconds. Guided by the millimeter-wave active phased array radar, it pounced on the Sidewinder launcher 20 kilometers away that was searching for the CH-4.
"Yes, that's the direction. Okay, we've locked onto it."
"I can't wait to fire the first missile," said the Tuareg lad excitedly as he manually locked onto the target using the guidance radar.
"Boom!"
The heavy anti-tank missile that fell from the sky accurately hit the target, and the 11-kilogram warhead blasted the two missiles and the launch vehicle to smithereens.
Next!
The flying squirrel, its eyes glued to the screen, wasn't satisfied, but unfortunately, the other side didn't have another one.
The only two Sidewinder launchers were completely destroyed, but fortunately, there were still so many pickup trucks left.
"Whoosh!"
Choosing two high-threat targets, the flying squirrel fired two more shots of super glue.
+300,000 euros!
+300,000 euros!
The range is nearly three times that of the AR-1, and the price quoted to the French has also increased by the same amount. As for whether it's worth shooting down a pickup truck, four shots are enough to take down a Sidewinder launcher unit, so they dare not save money now.
"Call the howling eagles to continue the deception tactic!"
Upon receiving the signal from the Siberian Wren, Xia Yu made contact with the Roaring Eagle crew.
"yes!"
"call out"
The drones continued their attack.
His deception plan was to continue harassing the enemy until the last missile was fired.
But the Tuareg were truly out of vehicles. The CH-4, having emptied its racks, failed to achieve its objective, and the Longbow Crossbow, hovering in the sky, could only land at the camp.
"One is good enough. They probably don't have many of these missiles. The two that day were probably all the launch units, so there's probably one more hidden at most."
Xia Yu and the two members of the Hanhao Bird crew said.
His intuition was correct, but because he didn't know the true nature of the Azawad Coordination Movement, he had to keep the heavy anti-tank missiles on for tomorrow's attack in order to counterattack as quickly as possible.
"Yes, boss, we'll do our best tomorrow."
Old Han answered on behalf of the two.
With its precision-strike capability, the Longbow Cross Deer will replace the Old Deer Tiger as the offensive core of the combined fire defense force, allowing Xia Yu to gradually relinquish control and transform from an absolute main force into a relatively important support.
This was intentional on his part; as the business expanded, the less likely the owner would be to be as hands-on as before.
At this stage, Xia Yu has enough time to adapt to this change.
However, he still needs to be fully committed to every deployment that tackles the toughest challenges. Just like this time when he returned to the Sahel region, he, as the boss, had to stay until they took down Kidar.
After eliminating these thousands of people from the Azawad Coordination Movement, things became much easier for them.
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