War in Lebanon

[Marshal Murat]

CC:5

Inspired by the Yom Kippur story.

Rashad Khalil stood at the edge of the woodland clearing, the tall pines hardly moving in the still heat of mid-day. He was a sentry, but now he was an onlooker, watching the flat-bed trucks drive in, their beds loaded with steel tubes, racks, or the Katyusha rockets. The other sentries also watched from the pine tree shade, admiring the smooth efficiency that the operators slowed their trucks, parked them, and assembled the Katyusha rockets. They wouldn't fire for a while, since the Jews were still assembled in Aytarun, a mile to the east. The Katyushas were assembled for the ambush, when the Jewish tanks and trucks would push up Highway 10 to Bent JBail, where Hezbollah had assembled the armory for that area. The Israeli's had bombed the city several days earlier, hoping to scatter the arms and the militia assembled there. Luckily the armories were in cellars and bunkers, secure from Israeli eyes and their spies.
"Rashad! Get back to your post." Sergeant Saul Kamir, a British son of two Lebanese parents, he rejoined his native state after being contacted by Hezbollah. He always wore a desert fatigue and worked out, usually a 2 mile jog and weigh lifting. Burly barely described the sergeant.
"Yes sir," Rashad replied, retreating into the brush and pine tree landscape, going a hundred paces into the distance. Ahead there was a rise in the landscape, one of the hills that surrounded the towns and cities in Lebanon. Scurrying up the hill, Rashad pulled on scrubs and brush, scrambling and sliding along the hill. Finally he reached the top of the hill. Beneath him was the highway to Bent JBail, a couple cars sitting on the roadside, burnt out and broken. Vultures sat on the car hoods, watching the surrounding burnt countryside for movement. The Highway was abandoned since the Israelis had struck vans and several cars, supposedly full of Hezbollah militia, riding to repel the Jewish invaders. There was also a column of Israeli soldiers moving down the road.


Ezekiel Dashmon felt the Blackhawk lift off of the tarmac in Malkiya, even though he was watching the laptop screen intently. The laptop was linked to the IDF mainframe, providing the captain with the intelligence accumulated across the board. On the laptop there was a map of southern Lebanon, specifically the highway from Aytarun to Bent JBail. The Predator drones were in the process of scouting the highway and the hills to either side. There were also three infantry companies moving along the highway, clearing it of IED's that were the favorite in Iraq. They could call in F-16 support if they needed it, or Cobra attack helicopters if they got lucky. Usually they had to find cover, and pray that the armor got their quickly.
Captain Ezekiel knew that Hezbollah was going to strike the IDF column as it moved west, he just didn't know where. So he took a Blackhawk, two Cobra helicopters, a couple special operations men, and his laptop. Laptops were gold in modern combat, since they could sync with the self-propelled artillery pieces that were attached to the armored column. With that ease, he could find a target and call in artillery in seconds, the computer using the GPS and the IDF mainframe to figure out where it is, and where the artillery was required.
"Pilot, take us over the southern border of Highway 10. Fly high so I can get a better look."
Acknowledging with a thumbs-up, the Blackhawk roared louder as they gained altitude, the Cobras following the lead. Soaring over southern Lebanon, Ezekiel could see on his laptop the armored column square sitting over Aytarun, ready to leap into Bent JBail. The infantry columns had GPS trackers, and the squares were in a line, sweeping west on the highway. There was smoke issuing across the land, whisps, big belches of black, or a moderate gray. They were from any number of things that could be set alight, and hopefully they were all Hezbollah things. Hope rarely counted for much in southern Lebanon.
"Captain, I have three trucks to the south, a clearing. They look like Katyusha s." A Cobra gunner called in, and on the laptop three red dots appeared.
"Pilot, take us lower."
Another thumbs up saw the Blackhawk slowly spiral downwards, the two Cobras staying a little higher up. They would wait for the Blackhawk to give them targets.


Rashad checked the AK-47 that he carried across his chest. It was loaded and in safety checked. The Israeli soldiers were to numerous to take on alone, and the AK-47 was a spray-and-pray weapon, not a rifle like the Jews and their M-16.
Moving back down the hill, Rashad scampered down the hill, trying not to trip on rocks and pits. Hurrying through the trees, he met Sergeant Saul as he was moving out, walking to see what the commotion was about.
"Sergeant, Jewish soldiers, highway." Rashad spoke quickly, giving the information in bullet points.
Nodding, Sergeant Saul turned on his hand held radio, and talked quickly.
A few seconds later the response came. Sergeant Saul turned it off and stepped into his jeep.
"Sir, what do we do?"
At that, Sergeant Saul froze.
"We fight, Hezbollah always fights." He replied loudly, and with that the jeep started and the sergeant drove to the break area, where the majority of the company was assembled. It was a respectable distance from the launch site, to save the company from any retaliation by the Israeli artillery. Rashad looked around, and then started back to the hill. The sergeant needed to know any updates, and if he needed to, Rashad steeled himself to defend the Katyusha rockets.

[Marshal Murat]

Captain Ezekiel scanned the hilly terrain, and saw the pale white flatbed truck. There were five of them, two hidden under the trees and covered in camouflage. It was little wonder that it wasn't seen by the two Cobra pilots.
Drawing a square with the mouse, the Israeli captain would send the information to the self-propelled artillery in the armored column. The message would take a few seconds to get there, and then a full minute for them to begin to fire. The orders went to the Cobra gunners, who began to strafe the area immediately. Rockets were fired, rows of fire and smoke, columns that struck the ground and exploded in mushrooms of flame. The Katyusha rockets were set off, and they caused a chain-reaction of explosions, some streaming into the forest and undergrowth. The Gatling guns on the nose of the Cobras began to fire, adding to the carnage. The entire area began to smoke and fume, the flames licking the pine trees and scrub brush. The Blackhawk roared louder, and the trio of helicopters turned back to Malkiya, in the Israeli borders. Hopefully the tarmac wasn't hit by any mortars.
"Drop me off in Aytarun, pilot. I need to see the fruits of my efforts."
A thumbs up, and the Blackhawk found a flat spot on the highway Aytarun.

Rashad watched the Cobras dive and strafe a patch of forest and scrub brush to the south, over the highway. They were distant black eagles, moving swiftly from the blue sky. They must have seen a couple civilians, decided to maul a couple donkeys, and write it off as 'Hezbollah Militants'. The sergeant had followed Rashad several minutes later, on foot, with the entire company. Mortars were assembled at the base of the hill, hidden from the Jewish sights. Several RPGs were brought up and sighted, and three anti-tank guns were also at the base of the hill. The entire company formed along the hill crest, watching the Israeli company. The Jews had broken into a scattered formation, taking cover behind cars and in the ditch. They were eating lunch, or so Rashad presumed. The captain of the company was supposedly on his way, along with another four companies, Sagger anti-tank missiles, and another assemblage of weaponry. Sergeant Saul had told the company that the other Katyusha rocket site was 'destroyed by the Jewish devils' and that the site they were defending was the only one left to stall the Israeli assault.


Aytarun was an assemblage of white-washed houses, offices, and blocky buildings. They were unoccupied, and oddly enough they had received several calls on the local telephones, concerned relatives calling to see if they were alright. When the receiver started in Jewish, the lines swiftly went dead. It was humorous the first couple times, but then the captains cut the lines, afraid that it would be Hezbollah espionage, ascertaining positions of Israeli forces through innocent means.
Ezekiel watched the privates find the lines and cut them, or they simply pulled out telephones. The armored column sat in the middle of the street, baking in the Levant sun. There were four Merkava tanks, three M113 APCs, four desert fatigue trucks, and several jeeps. The column was waiting for the three companies to report in, and for the higher command to go ahead. Captain Ezekiel knew their pent-up frustration, as the methodical approach stymied the aggressive IDF soldiers, cooped up in the buildings of Aytarun.

"Captain Ezekiel, I'm Colonel Nehshu, 5th Armored." Captain Ezekiel saluted, the colonel nodded, and pointed to a nearby building.
"We took the local telecommunications building for our uses. If you'll follow me." The two stepped into the office, where there was a map of the local area, with pins and strings drawn to Bent JBail. Timelines and tables were set-up on the desks, and several officers were working at their laptops.
"Welcome to the 5th Armored Command, Captain Ezekiel."

[Marshal Murat]

"What do you need colonel?" Ezekiel asked quietly, taking a seat behind a desk.
"The data you collected from the air was invaluable, and we have plotted a map to the city of Bent JBail. The Air Force has hit the city several times, but Mossad insist that the bunkers were not destroyed. Our column is to punch in, secure the bunkers, and wait for the main column to drive up from the south. However, General 'Udi' Adam wants to push in with his full armored force, a pincer strike. General Halutz has asked for a combined force strike, paratroopers, armored, mechanized, everything."
The colonel plotted out the various methods of assault on the map of southern Lebanon, indicating each option.
"What do you want an intelligence captain for colonel? It seems like you have the situation covered from each angle, and you let the generals decide." Ezekiel felt like a fifth wheel already. His expertise was intelligence gathering in the field, not deciding a massive operation.

"We wanted an intelligence officer to lead the paratroopers, since you can determine where the bunkers and armories are. We then precision strike with bunker-busters and cluster bombs. You evac by helicopter, and the armored column keeps all her chariots."
Ezekiel was stunned. The operation was dangerous to say the least. Landing in an enemy city, no real option of escape outside of helicopters, and surrounded Hezbollah militia. Colonel Nehshu pulled his canteen out and drank from it.


Rashad saw three Achzarit APCs advance slowly up the highway, guns slowly scanning the surrounding hillsides. The gunners quickly shifted their aim to the APCs. The Jewish soldiers noticed it's approach, and they packed up their gear. Looking back, many of the soldiers turned back to the APCs.
Sergeant Saul licked his lips, and then sighted his AK-47.
With a quick pull, the gun barked.
Rashad fired away, going at semi-auto, picking out the authoritative figures. The anti-tank Sagger missiles whooshed away, striking the Achzarits in a roar of dust and flames. The RPGs fired an instant later, hoping to strike the Achzarits or the Israeli soldiers.
"Allahu Akhbar!" was the Hezbollah cry, as the fire increased, men switching to automatic, and the Israeli soldiers returning rapid, effective fire. Rashad watched the silver white sparkles of trackers and bullets cutting apart the air. The air buzzed with near passes, and tufts of ground flew upwards. Several grenades were lobbed, and they exploded on the highway. The Achzarits fired off their smoke grenades, shrouding the highway in the white-gray cloud.
The fire slackened as militia switched out clips or were struck by the M-16 bullets, the others waiting for the smoke to clear. One Achzarit was burning through the smoke, a track twisted from the running wheels. The two others drove past, trailing smoke from their wheels and launchers, hoping to shield the company as they embarked. Then the militia saw bright flashes of light and flame behind them, followed seconds later by the thunderous rumble and roar. Artillery shells fell all around them, throwing sand and scrub into the air. Men were tossed like dolls.
"Fall back!" Sergeant Saul yelled, and with eager feet the militia scrambled backwards, into the pines and scrub. The Katyushas were still there, silent steel and iron beasts ready to unleash a deadly torrent of fire.
Rashad then saw the artillery shells fall closer to the Katyusha rockets. It was peppering off, but they were still falling. And with a sudden agony Rashad saw one fall into a rack of Katyusha rockets. Diving to the ground, he waited for the roar of the detonations of the other rockets. It didn't happen. Looking up, he saw the dud had ripped through the rack and bed of the truck, now it was stuck in the ground.
After another ten seconds of the barrage, it lifted, and Rashad looked around him. Few were left, Sergeant Saul one of them.
"Sergeant what do we do?"
"Fire the rockets, and fall back to Bent JBail."

[Marshal Murat]

Ezekiel heard the rumbling of the artillery shells pass overhead, falling beyond the town limits. In the command post he also heard the reports from the mechanized infantry units as they reported in. The first two companies had seen nothing of importance, but the third had two platoons hit by Hezbollah infantry. The retrieval Achzarits were all hit, one of them disabled for the moment. The artillery rumble ceased, and with that the APCs had fallen back into their smoke cloud, leaving the Achzarit in the fight. Ezekiel then heard what Germans feared in WW2. His father talked about them, and now Ezekiel understood. 'Stalins Organs' or the Katyusha rockets.
They fell all around Ezekiel. They thundered, moaned, wailed, and exploded in violent red and orange bursts. The crews of the vehicles dove inside, or they flew into the house and cellars. The bombardment lasted for a few minutes at best, but it's devastation was widespread. Windows not boarded up were shattered by the impact of shrapnel, and Ezekiel was lucky to be sitting behind a desk as one scrap of steel had punched through the wall and into the map of Lebanon on the wall.


Rashad jumped into the rear of the truck, and with a rumble it started up the sheep path, one of several trucks heading to Bent JBail to defend the city from Israeli assaults. In all likely-hood they would be hit by roving F-14s, or spotted by the Predator drones. The forest receded from view as they crested a hill and started down the reverse slope, into the city outskirts. Many of the buildings were empty, and the first two trucks had dropped off some of the militia survivors to stall any Israeli push. Sagger missiles, RPGs, anti-tank guns, mortars, and AK-47 ammunition, they would appear later, brought out by locals and their hand-carts. Motorized convoys were meat for the shredder of Jewish fire.
Sergeant Saul dismounted from his jeep by a local laundry-mat, establishing a headquarters there. The rest of the company continued into the city, dropping out every couple buildings to establish a road-block. Rashad rode on, and into the city proper. The suburbs were inhabited, but Rashad saw many packing their things into carts and cars, eager to get out of town. The mosques were all fortifying themselves with sand-bags and concrete barriers. The city offices were being turned into concrete fortifications, and the safe-houses were especially fortified. In the city there was automobiles moving about, but as the Hezbollah convoy entered town they stopped to let the trucks pass. Cleared areas, such as basketball courts and school-yards were being set up as mortar positions. Any vehicle that was unused was piled into roadblocks in the city, here bicycles, carts, desks, everything was being piled into defenses. Anti-tank weaponry were placed at crucial intersections. Men, women, and teenagers carried AK-47s, visible to all.
Rashad got off at his apartment complex. It was living space, and it's cellar was a Hezbollah armory, stocked with AK-47s, ammunition, M-16s, flags, banners, posters, RPGs, mortars and rounds, anti-tank guns, and manuals about IEDs imported from Syria.


Captain Ezekiel found his Blackhawk, different from the one he came in on. There were five of them, all stopped in the nearby oats field. There was also three paratrooper platoons, one special operations platoon, and four crates of supplies. They were being loaded onto one Blackhawk, the other four assembling in the other Blackhawks. The operation had been worked out by the generals. Bent JBail needed to have Hezbollah positions marked out, armories, bunkers, and roadblocks. The data would then be provided to the IDF armored columns. They would punch in, secure the city and the armories. First the IDF had to drop the leaflets to warn the residents that bombing would be taking place. Already the artillery was zoned into JBail, and several bombers were circling, ready to bunker-bust some munitions. It was all to happen in the evening, with the armored columns moving in early morning, and the city secured by mid-day or afternoon.

[Marshal Murat]

Captain Ezekiel unstrapped from the harness and jumped onto the roof of the hotel. There were several hotels in Bent JBail, and the other helicopters were letting off their soldiers. They were slipping down the ropes onto the roof, while Ezekiel's helicopter had to drop off the crates of ammunition, flares, smoke, explosives, and other essentials for marking the bunkers.
Mossad had highlighted several buildings of interest, two apartment complexes, three office buildings, and two suburban houses. The apartments were to the north, over the city, so the platoons were concentrated over the office buildings, and then spread out to the apartment complexes.
Ezekiel moved out of the downdraft, and into the stairwell that led into the office. The crates were pushed out, and the helicopter took off. Several RPGs slid into the air, trailing smoke, flying over the Blackhawks. The other platoons were descending into the buildings.
The paratroopers came in after Ezekiel's Blackhawk, and with their trained hands they assembled the remote smoke canister, to emit purple smoke when for the gunships. They then followed Ezekiel down the stairwell.


Rashad jumped into the truck, grabbing the side of the bed as it rumbled into the city. Militia were forming up on the roadside. They were mostly boys, the older men taking the Israeli warning and evacuating north of the Litani River. The militia were patrolling the streets. At about 7:00, the Israelis flew gunships over the city, dropping soldiers off at the roof-tops. They were stuck there until the Israeli's came back, and Hezbollah didn't understand the move. To protect the bunkers, the militia had to strike the Israelis before they found the bunkers.

[Marshal Murat]

The helicopters swooped low over the towers, using their mini-guns to clear the surrounding roof-tops. Purple smoke dotted buildings, slowly spiraling into the air. One helicopter landed, and with that Ezekiel departed the city of Bent JBail.
The radios were alive with chatter, as the pilots circled, waiting for the last casualties to be evacuated. The armored columns were driving up the roads, Merkava tanks leading the way, blasting apart any resistance.

As the helicopter pulled away from the violent fury in the morning, he scanned the skies for the jets. Then he saw three black specks riding the wind. They came from the north, and with a thunderbolt's speed they roared through the air. The Black Hawks were away, and Ezekiel heard 'Go ahead' on the radio.

The morning was shaken by two cluster bombs as they fell into the city, then the satellite guided bombs of the jets flew into the city. The jets were passing overhead, roaring like a wave on the shore, magnified a thousand times. The air rumbled, and Ezekiel saw flames sprout in the city buildings. With a roar and thunder it came down, steel collapsing on glass, pushing ash and dust out. The artillery began to fire, and rockets flew into the city, punishing the buildings with all matter of munitions.