The Diary of Lieutenant Colonel Elias Laroche

The Siege of Sanaa, Yemen, 10-12 November 2018

10th of November 2018, Eastern Defense Sector of the City of Sanaa, 0400 hours

Sanaa. A city of history, culture, and now—bloodshed. This morning, my battalion received orders to reinforce the Coalition forces here, alongside 5,000 Yemeni government soldiers and 2,000 American ground troops. Our mission: hold Sanaa against the Houthis at all costs. Intel reports estimate the enemy at around 15,000, but from what we've seen, I wouldn't be surprised if they were closer to 20,000 strong. The Houthis have been gaining momentum, and this city is the jewel they want to crown their efforts. I fear this battle will be unlike any we've faced so far.

10th of November 2018, Eastern Defense Sector of the City of Sanaa, 1300 hours

The first skirmishes have already begun. The Houthis launched probing attacks against our eastern sector early this morning using fast technicals. Their tactics are brutal—artillery barrages followed by swarms of infantry, often using civilian buildings for cover. The Yemeni forces held the line, but it was clear from the beginning that this would be a grueling fight. We've set up defensive perimeters around key points in the eastern city, with Consortian Marines manning fortified positions. We're equipped with FAMAS FELIN rifles, FGM-148E Javelin anti-tank weapons, and FN Minimi machine guns, alongside a few M1151 HUMVEEs. The Americans brought along their M1A2 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley IFVs, providing us with much-needed armored support. Meanwhile, the Yemeni forces are fighting with whatever they can muster—mostly older Soviet-era equipment, but their resolve is strong, at least.

11th of November 2018, Eastern Defense Sector of the City of Sanaa, 0200 hours

It's been a long day of fighting. The Houthis have intensified their attacks. They’ve brought out the big guns—T-55 tanks, technicals fitted with heavy machine guns and ATGM lauchers, alongside artillery pieces that are pounding our positions relentlessly. We suspect they’re using Katyusha rockets and some Persian "toys" to saturate our defenses before sending in waves of infantry. My men are exhausted but holding. The Americans have been a godsend, using their Abrams to blunt the Houthi armor and bringing in two Centurion C-RAMs, setting them on top of city blocks via the single Chinook still surviving. However, their sheer numbers are pushing us to the brink. We’ve lost contact with the Yemeni forces on the southern flank; I fear the worst.

11th of November 2018, Emergency Modular Command post of the Eastern Flank of the Inner City of Sanaa, 1800 hours

We’ve been forced to withdraw from the eastern sector. The Houthis broke through earlier this afternoon, overrunning our positions. We managed to pull back to secondary defensive lines, but at a heavy cost. The streets are filled with the dead and dying—friend and foe alike. Our artillery, alongsisde M777 howitzers brought in by the Americans, have been our saving grace. They’ve been shelling Houthi positions non-stop, but it’s like trying to hold back a flood with a bucket. The enemy keeps coming, and they’re starting to use more sophisticated tactics. We’ve seen signs of Iranian influence—better-coordinated attacks, advanced IEDs, and even loitering munitions like Shaheds. The southern flank has collapsed, and the remaining Yemeni government forces have retreated to the southern part of the inner city. We are in a most perilous position.

12th of November 2018, Sanaa International Airport, 0600 hours

The night was hell. The Houthis launched a full-scale assault under the cover of darkness, hoping to catch us off guard. They hit us from all sides—wave after wave of infantry, supported by mortars, Shaheds and rockets. The fighting was hand-to-hand at several points, and we’ve taken heavy casualties. We’ve fallen back to the airport, the last defensible position in the city. It’s chaos here—troops are digging in, setting up machine gun nests, and preparing for what we all know will be the final stand. The Houthis are relentless, and they’re getting closer by the minute. We have lost both our C-RAMs, so our only air defense systems right now are a few FIM-92F Stingers scattered around the airport and a single ZSU-23-4 Shilka SHORAD system owned by the Yemeni government. Out of my initial force of 1,000 men, 300 have died and 200 are in critical condition. Our ammunition supplies, along with our rations are also running dry. We will not resist for more than a day here. The Americans, who still have 1,500 combat capable troops and a few Abrams left are defending the Northern, Southern and Western parts of the airport, while us and the Yemeni are on the Eastern side.

12th of November 2018, Sanaa International Airport, 1300 hours

The situation is desperate. We're on our last mags. The Houthis are hammering us with everything they’ve got. Our perimeter is shrinking, and we’ve ran out of ammo for artillery, and we're almost out of shells for the Abrams. The airport is filled with wounded soldiers, and the Houthis are just a few hundred meters away. If we don’t get air support soon, I fear it’s over. I’ve just received word that an evacuation is being organized. Coalition aircraft are en route to extract us, but it’s going to be tight. We need to hold out until they arrive, however long that may take. I must ensure that they do not find a graveyard when they get here.

12th of November 2018, Sanaa International Airport, 1500 hours

The airlift has begun. C-130s, C-17s and A400Ms are swooping in under heavy fire, landing just long enough to load as many wounded and personnel as they can before taking off again. My remaining able men are fighting like demons to keep the Houthis at bay, but the situation is deteriorating rapidly. The last of the American Abrams tanks is still operational, providing covering fire on the Eastern flank, which is close to falling, as the evacuation continues. High Command ordered the destruction of any equipment we can’t take with us—they won’t let it fall into Houthi hands. I have also prioririze the evacuation of our wounded on the first planes, so that they may recieve immediate medical attention in-flight. Air support has also arrived, with F-15Es and F/A-18s from both TGEC and the US covering our escape from above. As much as my instinct tells me to launch a counter-attack, to get revenge, I must act in a sane manner. I must evacuate.

12th of November 2018, Sanaa International Airport, 1800 hours

I’m on the last C-130 out. The airport is in flames behind us, and the city of Sanaa is lost. The strike aircraft bombes the airport to rubble as soon as it was overrun by the Houthis. We did everything we could, but it wasn’t enough. As we fly towards Qatar, I can’t help but think about the men we left behind—their sacrifices will not be forgotten. The Houthis may have taken Sanaa, but this war is far from over. We’ll regroup, rearm, and return to fight another day. They are not strong. This victory of their will not be long-lasting. For now, though, all I can do is try to get some rest. We’ve earned it.

END OF LOG

Operation Death Angel

2nd of February 2020, Jalisco Forward Camp, Central American Confederacy - 0800 Hours

We’ve been deployed to the northern region of the Central American Confederacy, a region that has become a breeding ground for chaos. This is no ordinary peacekeeping mission. The Cartel de los Muertos controls vast swaths of territory in the northern region, and their influence stretches deep into the local government and police forces. Our orders are clear: stabilize the region, dismantle the cartel’s operations, and restore some semblance of order. My battalion consists of 1,200 battle-hardened troops, many of whom have seen combat in the Middle East. We’re supported by 120 Strykers, a mix of infantry carriers, mobile gun systems, anti-tank guided missile carriers, and command variants, alongside a detachment of six AH-64E Apaches. This is a different type of warfare—urban, close-quarters, and against an enemy that fights with brutality and no rules.

2nd of February 2020, Los Reyes - 1400 Hours

The first engagement took place just outside a small town called Los Reyes. As we approached, the streets seemed eerily deserted. We dismounted and began clearing buildings, but it wasn’t long before we were ambushed. The cartel had set up IEDs along the main roads and sniper nests in the buildings, hitting us hard. Their equipment is a mix of old and new—AK-47s ans 74s, AR-15s, old RPGs, and a disturbing number of .50-caliber machine guns mounted on pickup trucks. We’ve even encountered some military-grade equipment, like M2 Browning MGs and even a few BMP-1s, likely stolen from local armories or supplied by corrupt officials. Despite their lack of formal training, they’re cunning and use the urban environment to their advantage. Our tactics have had to adapt quickly. Strykers lead the charge, using their mobility to outflank cartel positions while infantry squads clear the buildings. We’ve established a pattern of moving block by block, securing the area and setting up defensive positions on the roofs before moving on. But it’s slow going, and every step forward is met with fierce resistance. We have established sniper nests on the roofs, and Apaches are on constant lookout.

3rd of February 2020, Los Reyes - 0300 Hours

It’s been a brutal night. We secured Los Reyes, but the cost was high. The cartel launched counterattacks throughout the night from the outskirts of the settlement, trying to retake the town. They used the cover of darkness to infiltrate our positions, attacking from multiple directions simultaneously. The night vision equipment we brought with us gave us a slight edge, but it was still a close fight. We lost four men in the night fighting, bringing the death count of this battle to 16 of our troops ans two Strykers, and perhaps a few dozen of theirs, plus most of their equipment. The Strykers provided essential fire support, their 105mm cannons and .50-caliber machine guns keeping the enemy at bay. However, the cartel’s tactics are evolving—they’re using more sophisticated IEDs, often triggered by remote or pressure plates hidden in everyday objects. We’ve begun rotating engineers through the front lines to help with EOD, but the threat is constant.

4th of February 2020, La Sombra - 1100 Hours

We’ve pushed deeper into cartel territory, reaching the outskirts of their main stronghold in the region—a town called La Sombra. It’s a sprawling urban area, densely packed with buildings, slums and narrow streets. The perfect environment for an ambush. The cartel has set up checkpoints and fortified positions throughout the town, and we’ve confirmed reports that they’re using civilians as human shields. I’ve divided the battalion into three combat teams. Alpha Team, supported by the mobile gun systems and ICVs, will spearhead the assault on the western flank. Bravo Team, with anti-tank Strykers, will secure the eastern approach and neutralize the heavy weaponry, such as BMP-1s, BMP-2s and BTR-60s intel reported they have. Charlie Team, the largest squad, will hold the center, advancing methodically through the town while protecting our rear. Our biggest challenge will be coordinating air support in such a crowded urban environment. We’ve been assigned several Apache helicopters, which have already proven invaluable in previous engagements, but the risk of collateral damage is high. We need to be precise, striking only where we can be sure there are no civilians. As such, they've been restricted to precision-guided Hellfire missiles for this mission.

4th of February 2020, La Sombra - 2200 Hours

The battle for La Sombra has begun. It’s worse than I anticipated. The cartel has dug in deep, turning the town into a fortress. They’ve mined the streets, booby-trapped buildings, and established kill zones. Every intersection is a potential death trap, and they’re using hit-and-run tactics to keep us off balance, emerging out of cellars to strike our Strykers with RPG-18s. We’ve made progress, but it’s slow and costly. Alpha Team managed to breach the western defenses, but they’ve been bogged down by heavy resistance. Bravo Team encountered an anti-armor ambush—RPGs and recoilless rifles hidden in the upper floors of buildings. They’ve destroyed several Strykers, but we’re pressing on. The Apaches have been crucial in taking out fortified positions, but the cartel is adapting, moving their forces through underground tunnels and using rooftops to attack from above. Our plan is to use our engineering vehicles to seal the entrances to the tunnels, suffocating the militants underground and burying them alive.

5th of February 2020, La Sombra - 0500 Hours

We’ve fought through the night, and La Sombra is still contested. Casualties are mounting on both sides. We’ve taken several key positions, including a central plaza that the cartel was using as a command post. Our engineers have been working around the clock, disarming IEDs, sealing tunnel entrances and clearing paths through the rubble. The cartel’s morale is starting to crack. We’ve intercepted communications that indicate infighting among their leaders, with some advocating for a retreat while others are determined to fight to the last man. They’ve lost a significant number of their fighters, but those who remain are fanatically loyal, launching occasional hit and run attacks. We have lost 50 troops in this battle and 4 vehicles, an unnaceptable number of casualties. They too have taken heavy losses. We estimate around 200 dead militants, along with all of their IFVs and APCs destroyed.

6th of February 2020, La Sombra - 1200 Hours

For the past 24 hours, the intensity of the fighting dimmed down. La Sombra has finally fallen. The last pockets of resistance were cleared out this morning in quick raids. The cartel fought fiercely to the end, but we overwhelmed them with coordinated assaults from all sides. The town is in ruins—whole blocks have been reduced to rubble, and the streets are littered with the debris of war. We’ve captured several high-ranking members of the cartel, along with a large stockpile of weapons and ammunition stored in the basement of the town hall. However, their leader, a man known as El Fantasma, managed to slip away in the chaos. We suspect he’s hiding in the mountains to the south, where he’s likely regrouping with any surviving forces. Mountain warfare is a complex discipline, and most certainly not our speciality. We are marines, not mountaineers. Anyways, this evening, we celebrate. The cartel's operations in Northern CAC have been heavily disrupted, as we have taken out their major outposts. We have also discovered a few labs used to produce narcotics and a few dozen tons of the actual products. Most of the drugs were probably evacuated by the cartel to the East, perhaps to a smuggling base. CAC forces can take care of them. The local population is terrified, caught between the cartel’s brutality and the devastation of our military operations. We’ve done what we came to do, but the real challenge will be maintaining this fragile peace and rebuilding what’s been lost. The cartel may be broken, but they’re not defeated. As long as El Fantasma remains at large, the threat will persist. We’ll stay on high alert, patrolling the area and conducting search-and-destroy missions to eliminate any remaining cells. But for now, the region is stable, and that’s a victory in itself.

END OF LOG