Chapter 1356
Nasur Fortress
Chapter 1356 Nasur Fortress
Which troops should be used to fight?
Thorhan's voice deepened as he moved his fingers back and forth between the Erbil defenses and the Nassul fortress on the tactical map.
“My main force must hold the outer defense line of the city. This is our foundation. Not a single soldier can be moved. The presidential guard must ensure the absolute safety of the command center and key nodes, so they can’t be spared either… Are we really going to have to assemble people from the recently gathered defeated soldiers or police? That won’t do. That would be suicide. It wouldn’t be able to stop the steel torrent of Barzani’s armored brigade for even an hour.”
A brief, oppressive silence fell over the command center.
Everyone understood that without a decent, combat-ready force, even the most perfect encirclement plan was just a pipe dream.
Just then, Masood took a step forward.
His movements were small, yet they instantly drew everyone's attention.
"Use the sharpest blade from the Third Brigade."
"General Tolkien," said Masoud, "I know that the 'Storm' Assault Battalion of the 3rd Brigade has just been transferred back from the western front for rest and is stationed at Camp No. 3 in the east of the city. They are the most elite heavy mechanized infantry in the entire brigade, and they have fought tough battles and overcome difficult challenges."
Torhan looked up abruptly, his face filled with shock and disbelief: "'Storm' Battalion?! That's the Third Brigade's last strategic reserve, the fist of counterattack! And they've just completed a long maneuver and need rest..."
"We have no time to rest!"
Masoud interrupted Tolhan: "Barzani's tanks won't wait for us to rest. The 'Storm' battalion is the best equipped, the most trained, and has the strongest anti-armor capabilities. Only they can possibly hold off Barzani's vanguard for long enough in terrain like the Nasul Fortress."
He took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over every anxious or solemn face in the command center: "Moreover, I will personally go to Nasul Fortress with the 'Storm' battalion."
"Your Excellency! Absolutely not!" Torhan was truly panicked this time, almost rushing forward. "You are the President's son! You are..."
"It is precisely because my surname is Masood that I must stand on the front line!"
Masood's voice carried a hint of pride.
"The soldiers need to see with their own eyes that the president's family is not hiding behind reinforced concrete, but standing with them in the most dangerous places! This is to tell everyone that the Massoud family's determination to protect this land is proven with blood and lives! If we ourselves are afraid to sacrifice, why should we ask thousands of soldiers to shed blood for us? Why should the entire city of Erbil risk becoming ruins for us?"
These words made Song Heping, who was standing to the side, look at the president's eldest son with new respect.
It seems the Masood family is no coward after all.
It's no luck that they were able to dominate the Khord Autonomous Region for so many years.
Thor Khan opened his mouth, but found himself unable to refute.
Song Heping raised his hand, signaling the agitated Torhan to calm down, and then turned his gaze to Little Masood.
"I agree that His Excellency Masoud Jr. should be the supreme commander of this blocking force. His presence is irreplaceable in boosting the morale of the 'Storm' Battalion and the entire defensive line."
"However, I must take full responsibility for tactical command and specific battlefield deployments. At the same time, Your Excellency Masood must accept three conditions."
Little Masood hurriedly said, "Mr. Song, please speak."
"First, you have supreme command authority, but all combat orders must be approved by me or issued directly by me. The battalion commander of the 'Storm' battalion will serve as your deputy and battlefield executive officer."
"can."
"Second, your position is in a pre-designated, fortified, and concealed command post. You are not allowed to move forward to the front-line fighting positions for any reason. Your task is to command from the rear and boost morale, not to lead the charge."
Masood pursed his lips, clearly somewhat unwilling to accept this restriction, but finally nodded: "I understand the importance of it, I accept it."
"Third, and most importantly."
Song Heping's tone became unusually serious.
"The objective of the blocking mission is to buy time, not to fight to the death. Once I believe the predetermined blocking objective has been achieved, or the battlefield situation deteriorates to the point where there is a risk of the command post being breached, you being captured, or being killed, I will immediately order the 'Storm' Battalion to cover your forced evacuation. At that time, you must obey unconditionally. This is not negotiable; it is an ironclad rule to ensure the strategic bottom line and your personal safety. If you do not accept this, then don't go."
Masood remained silent.
After a few seconds, he said, "I accept your conditions, Mr. Song. But I also have one request: unless we are truly at our wits' end, the 'Storm' Battalion and I must fight to the last moment to buy every minute and every second for Samir and Abuyu's encirclement!"
"make a deal."
Song Heping nodded, then turned to Torhan, whose expression was constantly changing.
"General Khan, immediately order the 'Storm' Battalion to enter maximum combat readiness and complete all deployment preparations within one hour. Issue them double the standard load of anti-tank missiles, rocket launchers, and ammunition, especially 'Kornet' and RPG-29s. Give them the best equipment from the warehouse!"
He then looked at Masood: "Your Excellency, you should also change your clothes immediately and prepare to depart. We don't have time."
Looking at the two people who had quickly reached a consensus, Torhan knew that nothing could be changed.
He sighed and said, “I understand… ‘Storm’ will get everything they need. May God bless you… and please, you must come back alive.”
Song Heping raised his wrist to check his watch again.
9:58 p.m.
It will take approximately ten hours and fifty minutes for the vanguard of Barzani's 1st Armored Brigade to arrive at Nassul Fortress.
Two minutes remain before the advance troops of the Abuyu Brigade set off to pursue.
There are at least sixteen hours left before Samir's forces complete their deployment of blockade positions on the northern front.
There are sixty minutes left before the "Storm" battalion completes its emergency deployment preparations.
Less than forty-eight hours remain until the final turning point in this civil war that will determine the fate of the Kolds.
"Take action!"
Song Heping waved his hand and gave the final order.
After one hour.
East of Erbil, Camp No. 3 of the 3rd Brigade.
The chill of the night was shattered by the heat waves spewed from the diesel engine.
In the open space in the center of the camp, twenty-four tracked infantry fighting vehicles and eight-wheeled armored personnel carriers roared with their engines, forming two steel columns.
The blue-gray digital camouflage on the vehicle body gleamed coldly under the searchlights, and the muzzles of the machine guns mounted on the turret were as deep as caves.
This is the sharpest blade of the 3rd Mechanized Brigade, the "Storm" Assault Battalion.
Four hundred and twenty officers and soldiers have completed their final preparations and stand fully armed beside the vehicles.
Battalion Commander Major Faisal stood in front of the ranks, conducting the final pre-battle checks.
"Anti-tank missile team, reporting!"
"Two sets of 'Cornet' ammunition for Group A, six rounds in reserve!"
"Group B: Two sets of Kornets, six rounds of ammunition! Four RPG-29s, twenty armor-piercing rounds!"
"Heavy machine gun team!"
"Four NSV heavy machine guns, with 8,000 rounds of ammunition! Two AGS-30 automatic grenade launchers, with 120 grenades!"
"Sniper team!"
"Six SVD sniper rifles, two OSV-96 anti-materiel rifles, and sufficient special ammunition!"
The equipment report was short and forceful, echoing in the cold night wind.
Faisal's gaze swept over every face, finally settling on the two armored command vehicles that had just entered the camp.
The car door opened, and Song Heping jumped out first.
Immediately afterwards, Masoud also got out of the car.
Major Faisal strode forward and saluted the two men: "'Storm' Battalion is fully prepared and ready to deploy at any time! Major Faisal, at your command!"
Song Heping returned the salute, his gaze sweeping across the entire camp: "Major, I need to know the real situation. What is your battalion's combat readiness? What is the morale like?"
Faisal didn't hesitate: "Report! The battalion's equipment is 92% operational, and basic resupply and weapons verification have been completed. As for morale..."
He paused, his voice low but firm.
"The brothers knew what was happening in the city, and they knew what that bastard Barzani had done. They were all burning with anger, just waiting for orders."
“Very good.” Song Heping nodded, turned to Masoud, and gestured, “Sir? Would you like to say a few words?” Masoud took a deep breath of the cold air and walked to the front of the line.
More than 400 pairs of eyes instantly focused on him.
"The warriors of the 'Storm' Battalion."
The night wind carried his voice far away.
“A few hours ago, the traitor Barzani’s henchmen almost seized our capital, almost pointed their guns at the presidential palace, at all our homes. Now, that traitor is marching toward Erbil with the tanks and artillery he stole from the people of Kold. He has 16,000 men, tank formations, and heavy artillery.”
He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over each face.
"As for Erbil, we only have less than five thousand men that we can immediately deploy for field defense, and reinforcements are on their way."
A low murmur arose from the crowd, but no one spoke.
"But we need time. Someone needs to buy time."
Masood's voice suddenly rose in pitch.
"The General Staff's order is: the 'Storm' Battalion is to advance to the Nassul Fortress, establish a blocking position there, and hold off Barzani's 2,000-strong vanguard for at least twelve hours! This will buy time for friendly forces to reinforce and encircle them!"
He stepped forward, his young face sharply defined under the light:
“I know what this mission means. I know what we are going to face. I know that some of us may not come back.”
The queue was silent, save for the low growl of the engines.
"Therefore, I will not hide in a safe command room and use the radio to order you to your deaths."
Masood raised his right hand and pointed to the golden eagle emblem on his arm.
“I, Massoud, will go with you to Nassul Fortress! My father led less than a company to hold off an entire regiment of Saddam Hussein's troops at the Kalash Pass. Today, I will lead the 'Storm' Battalion to Nassul Fortress and show the Barzani rebels the courage of the Massoud family and the backbone of the Kold'd warriors!”
A brief moment of dead silence.
Then, Major Rashid turned sharply to face the entire battalion and roared hoarsely, "For Kold!"
"For Kold!!!"
The roars from over four hundred throats instantly drowned out all the engine noises, exploding in the night sky.
"Get in the car!"
Seeing that the time was almost up and the motivation was high enough, Song Heping gave the order to set off.
The steel torrent began to surge.
Armored vehicles drove out of the camp gate one after another and merged into the traffic flow leading to the expressway to the east of the city. Leading the way were two BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles equipped with mine-clearing rollers and reactive armor, followed by BTR-82A wheeled armored vehicles carrying infantry and anti-tank teams, and behind them were ammunition trucks, ambulances and command vehicles.
The entire column stretched for nearly a kilometer, and the headlights illuminated the road as if it were daytime.
Masoud sat in the passenger seat of the second command vehicle, looking at the long convoy behind him through the rearview mirror.
His palms were slightly sweaty, and his breathing became a little rapid.
After all, this was the first time in his life that he had truly commanded troops and the first time he had gone to the field battlefield.
"It's normal to be nervous."
Song Heping's voice came from the back seat.
He was facing a tactical terminal, the screen displaying real-time footage transmitted by a drone—red dots representing Barzani's advance force, steadily advancing westward along Highway 80.
"Was it like this when you first commanded troops?" Masoud asked.
"Everyone is the same."
Song Heping recalled the first time he was attacked in Iligo, shook his head self-deprecatingly, and smiled.
That roadside IED attack back then directly destroyed his and Lao Yao's small business, leading him down the path of PMC.
"But remember, every decision you make now is related to the life and death of these four hundred people. So, listen more, observe more, think more, and don't act impulsively. The last thing needed on the battlefield is brute force, because it's completely useless."
Masood nodded solemnly.
The convoy sped through the night. Fields and villages on either side of the road flashed by in the headlights, with occasional scattered lights visible, but most houses remained dark. The civilians had already been notified to either enter shelters or evacuate to safer areas.
At 2:17 a.m., the convoy left the main road and turned onto a small road leading to the mountains.
The road became bumpy, forcing the car to slow down.
"Fifteen kilometers from Nasul Fortress," the driver reported.
Song Heping retrieved the satellite map and structural diagram of the fortress and began the final tactical simulation.
Nasur Fortress is not an ancient castle, but a mountain defensive fortification complex built during the Ottoman Empire.
It is situated in the middle of a north-south trending ridge about 40 kilometers southeast of Erbil, guarding the last pass before Highway 80 enters the Erbil plain.
The main body of the fortress is made of stone and concrete, and is divided into three layers: upper, middle and lower.
The upper level houses observation posts and heavy firing positions, the middle level contains barracks and ammunition depots, and the lower level consists of underground passages and hideouts.
The area is surrounded by barbed wire, minefields from the Saddam era, and anti-tank trenches.
Although it is old and some of the fortifications have been damaged, the overall structure remains sturdy, especially given its geographical location.
Here, the highway is forced to detour along the foot of the mountain, forming a "death corridor" about 800 meters long with steep slopes on both sides.
"Major Faisal, upon arrival, proceed with deployment according to Plan C."
Song Heping began making arrangements over the radio.
"Company A will occupy the upper level of the fortress and the high ground on the west side, establishing observation posts and sniper positions. Company B will be responsible for the middle level of defense and anti-tank firing positions. Company C, as the reserve, will be concealed in the lower level passage of the fortress, ready to counterattack or fill gaps at any time. Engineer platoon, I want you to lay remote-controlled explosives and anti-tank mines at the bends in the road and in the anti-tank trenches, but leave room for retreat."
“Understood!” Faisal’s voice came through the radio.
The convoy stopped at the end of the mountain road.
Ahead, the dark mountain silhouettes looked particularly menacing under the starry sky.
The soldiers of the "Storm" battalion quickly jumped off the vehicles and, in squads and platoons, carried heavy equipment and ran along the pre-reconnaissance paths to the various positions of the fortress.
There were no lights, only the faint green glow from the night vision goggles and the low-voiced commands.
Under the protection of the guard platoon, Song Heping and Xiao Masude entered a reinforced command post in the middle layer of the fortress.
This place was originally an officers' lounge, but it has now been converted into a temporary command center.
Signalmen were setting up radios and antennas, while staff officers spread maps on broken wooden tables, the beams of flashlights moving across the drawings.
"Report! Company A has captured the upper observation post. Visibility is excellent; they can see the highway to the east for a distance of ten kilometers!"
"B Company's anti-tank missile positions are fully deployed, and all four launch sites have been camouflaged!"
"Sappers report: The first set of IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) has been deployed at the road bend, and the remote control fuse test is normal!"
Reports came one after another.
Song Heping looked at his watch: 3:41 a.m.
There are less than five hours left until the expected arrival time of Barzani's advance troops.
"Let half of the personnel take a break and take turns on guard duty," Song Heping ordered. "Once it gets light, there won't be time to close our eyes."
Masood walked to a firing port and looked east through a night-vision telescope.
In the vast darkness, he could see nothing, but he knew that at the edge of that darkness, a steel torrent of Barzani's vanguard regiment was approaching.
Asking for a monthly ticket! Asking for a monthly ticket! Asking for a monthly ticket!
(End of this chapter)