Castlederg missile strike
| Castlederg missile strike | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Castlederg, Gjorka |
| Date | November 30, 2022 |
| Target | Castlederg border crossing and surrounding area |
Attack type | Missile attack |
| Deaths | unknown; 200+ estimated |
| Injured | unknown; 3,000+ estimated |
| Perpetrators |  Ajak Army |
| Motive | Retaliation for OU recognizing the Free Council of Ajakanistan and the demanding Ajaki government step down |
The Castlederg missile strike occurred on November 30, 2022 at the border crossing of Ajakanistan and Gjorka in the small town of Castlederg.
The missile struck approximately 24 hours after the Ostlandet Union (OU) had issued a unilateral declaration recognizing the Free Council of Ajakanistan as the legitimate government of Ajakanistan and demanding the communist government to step down. Included in the declaration was a demand for the Ajaki government to meet OU representatives at Castlederg and turn themselves him to amnesty. The strike killed several OU representatives present including Martin Kittle, Banbhán Mac Cartaine, and Lidia Kasak and Spuinkvol Bobischkov from the Free Council along with estimated 200+ others.
The strike immediately incited Skirmishes to occur across the Ajakanistan–Gjorka border, and begin a Gjorkan invasion of Ajakanistan. The National Assembly of Gjorka passed a resolution declaring war against Ajakanistan a few hours later, and New Gandor joined the war after Gjorka invoked their Mutual Defense treaty.
Contents
Background
The growing Ajakanistan crisis had created significant tensions between the governments of the Ostlandet Union and Ajakanistan. In February of 2022, the Ajak Navy had a brief skirmish with the Paleocacherian Navy over fishing disputes causing relations between the two nations to sour. In June a summit was held in Gjorka City to help ease tensions on the continent which led to the creation of the Ostlandet Union. Despite this in October, Ajakanistana attempted to intervene in the Dubătemir Regional Insurgency for the Pavulturilori People's Army. A shipment of supplies for the rebels was met by the Pavulturilori Navy in international waters where a battle occured resulting in the destruction of all Ajaki ships. The Council of Ostlandet passed a resolution condemning Ajaki involvement in the Battle and sanctioning them for their actions. Ajakanistan responded by withdrawing from the OU. However, Ajaki Supreme Leader Vladimir Kariev choose to attend the Council meeting in person in an attempt to intimidate the council, leading to his arrest by Paleocacherian authorities to be tried in international court.
In the wake of the arrest of Kariev, Supreme Marshal Avandeyev Krasimir took control of the Ajaki government. His assumption as a leader caused mass protest across Ajakanistan. This was the largest series of protests to grip Ajakanistan, larger than the 2021 Ajaki pro-democracy protests or the 2022 Ajaki protests. Many of the protestors supported the Free Council of Ajakanistan headed by the Tsar Vladimir V. Following the progress of the protests to all out revolution in late November, the OU issued another resolution unilaterally recognizing the Free Council as the legitimate government of Ajakanistan, and declaring all remaining government leaders have 24 hours to turn themselves at the Gjorkan border town of Castlederg to receive amnesty.
Attack
At approximately 7:00 A.M local time in Castlederg, approximately 24 hours after OU declaration, the attacked occurred. Before the attack even began there was significant commotion at the border as Ajaki minister Zolin Stepanovich was attempting to defect to the OU just minutes before the attack began. At 6:53 A.M. air raids alarms began sounding on the Gjorkan side of the border warning of an impending missile attack. Eye witness to the strike noted that similar air raid alarms were not heard on the Ajaki side. Three missile struck Castlederg, one directly at the border crossing, one directly at the command operations of the local forces, and one directly at the downtown of Castlederg. All three strikes leveled their respective targets. The strike at the Gjorkan command operations was most devastating as it was the housing of all significant diplomats in the town including Council of Ostlandet members Martin Kittle, Banbhán Mac Cartaine, and Lidia Kasak along with representative Spuinkvol Bobischkov from the Free Council. All four were killed in the strike along with several other Gjorkan military commanders and approximately 200+ others around Castlederg. Nearly 3,000+ more were injured in the attack.
Reactions
Ostlandet Union
Gjorka: Following the attack, skirmishes began across the Ajaki border. The National Assembly convened an emergency session and passed a Declaration of War against Ajakanistan. The Department of Global Relations notified New Gandor it was invoking their mutual defense treaty. Gjorkan President Carter Morris activated all 500,000 of Gjorka's reserve forces, and ordered active military to begin invasion of Ajakanistan.
New Gandor: New Gandor immediately accepted the Gjorkan invocation of their defense treaty, and began an invasion of Ajakanistan. Gandorian President Jacek Sekorsky announced the activation of 220,000 reserve soldiers to fight in the conflict.
Paleocacher: Paleocacher began a simultaneous naval invasion and land invasion from Estcharia of Ajakanistan the morning after the attack.
International reactions
Akvarelusus: Akaverlian Minister of External Affairs Alexej Hodný condemned the attack calling Ajakanistan a "thorn in the otherwise beautiful continent of Ostlandet" and hoped that the OU intervention would "cleanse the country". He also announced Akvarelusus would be allowing Paleocacherian troops to move through the country to fight in Ajakanistan.
Creeperopolis: Creeperian Minister of Defense Augusto Cabañeras Gutiérrez praised the OU intervention in Ajakanistan celebrating that the "the 'beacon' and 'bastion' of communism of this world is coming to an end". He also mentioned Creeperopolis is prepared to defend its commitment to New Gandor in the Treaty of Anti-Communism should they invoke it. Additionally Captain General of the San Carlos Islands Sergio Tejón Galdámez saying he is "pleased" with the OU intervention and is "open to assisting these patriotic nations".
Dragonia: Dragonia condemned the Ajaki attack and offered condolences to victims.
Eleutherios: Eleutherian Federal Chancellor Stavros II condemned the attack calling it "unprovoked" and that he supports the OU in their intervention into the country. He also called for both sides to "respect civilian life" and "watch closely for any violations of human rights".
Jackson: The Jackian Department of Defense issued a declaration of neutrality shortly after the strike. In a later statement, the Department expressed the need for Jackson "to re-evaluate our standing, and to pick a side shortly".
Kivu: Kivuian Prime Minsiter Alexandra Berkhoff condemned the strike calling it a "needless loss of life" and called the OU intervention "necessary".
Pavulturilor: The Pavulturilori Director of Foreign Affairs Yair Lev condemned the attack and offered condolences to victims. In his statement, he offered to send 2 volunteer divisions to assist the OU in their conflict.
Intergovernmental reactions
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See also
 Gjorka portal Terraconserva portal |
