An airborne solution

Another excerpt of my 21st book and thriller.

A Two Edged Sword

An excerpt

There were shouts of joy in the headquarters bunker of Ar-Raqqa, when the news of the Syrian cowardly and hasty retreat forty kilometers away from Tabqa's airfield, were announced by one of the UAE television channels.

'The blessed reinforcement that we sent to Haji did it, we taught them a lesson the cowards they'll never recover from it.' Al-Iraqi announced loudly, as soon as he and his comrades calmed a bit down.

'Well yes we managed to do it right in time.' Al-Naser remarked with a short laugh of satisfaction.

They were on their feet roaming about near the desk in circles close to each other out of excitement, thumping on each other's shoulders to express their good spirits.

'I wonder if any Iranians and Hezbollah infidels were also included in that beaten force? And just to think of it they were supported by tanks and rode on armored vehicles the cowards.' He added with a scornful sneer.

It's midday, it's time to pray Dhuhr (midday prayer), and we'll be able to abide to the Ramadan holiday laws now that the Russian planes wouldn't bother us up to the end of the holiday; while the coalition planes are busy elsewhere, so do pass the order to all our brave men here in Ar-Raqqa.'

'We've got still to choose the one that would be sent to meet the Turks.' Al-Ameri reminded them last night's decision, which was almost forgotten thanks to the good news from Tabqa.

'I say there's no reason to celebrate as the victory in Tabqa is just one secluded episode in our fight against the infidels; the Syrian rebels with the Kurds are fighting our brave brethren within the streets of Manbij, and we don't have any idea when the Kurds opposite Mosul are about to attack; there's still much to do and plan how to help our brave brethren in each front, just like we did help Haji in Tabqa.'

'But how are we supposed to reach the other fronts, when Tabqa is rather close to us; but the road to Manbij is blocked, and the coalition planes are hovering all over the area?' Al-Ameri wondered aloud.

'We'll think it over again, when we'll meet tonight to end the day's time fast, and celebrate Haji's and our brave brethren victory in Tabqa.' Al-Iraqi declared decisively, and gave the sign to the others to return to their posts.

'Won't you come up to the communication office to watch the Iraqis' television channels?' Al-Anbari asked him.

'Yes let's go, despite the disinformation that they keep transmitting it's our only source of info, and we'll have to separate the wheat from the chaff.'

They zapped between the different Iraqi television channels, and watched completely different channels too, and learned all about the Iraqi refugee problems; about the estimation of three million and four hundred thousand Iraqi refugees have already left their homes; and there is a danger that additional two million and three hundred thousand Iraqis will flee from Mosul and its surroundings, as soon as the Iraqi army will advance on Mosul.

'They're trying to brainwash us with their disinformation.' Al-Iraqi concluded at the end of the special noon newsreel.

'They want us to believe that it will take several months before they'll resume their offensive.'

'So we must end up our preparations as soon as possible.' Al-Anbari remarked.

'They might even start their attack this very night; well I don't think that it will happen that soon… But we must be ready for a surprise attack, at the beginning of next week.'

'We must send then one of us to Turkey, as was decided last night. But who would go and how are these gliders operated?' Al-Anbari reminded him that problem, which did bother the lot of them; although no one mentioned it yet,

Maybe al-Naser and al-Ameri hoped that the entire idea will be forgotten. Al-Anbari thought amazed. As the idea in itself was not bad at all, but if it's achievable nobody knows it yet, except al-Iraqi.

 Haim Kadman 2016 �" all rights reserved.