Uzbek Intervention

 Uzbek Intervention Basic Information Round Round 10 Start Date Unknown End Date Unknown Location Uzbekistan Result Decisive Russian victory Combatants Russia Jamaat al-Jihad Uzbekistan Strength Russia Jet aircraft and special forces Uzbekistan Unknown Jamaat al-Jihad Unknown Losses Russia 50 Uzbekistan Unknown Jamaat al-Jihad 200-800, disbandment Civilians 150-10,000 estimated

The Uzbek Intervention was a major military conflict during Round 10 in the country of Uzbekistan. It originated in an escalating civil war within the country that ultimately involved the military intervention of the Russian Federation using jet aircraft and special forces units.

Uzbek Civil War
The civil war was a low-intensity conflict between government forces and Jamaat al-Jihad, a regional and previously minor terrorist organization. The group successfully manipulated harsh government policy and media attention in their favor. They seized the initiative and laid siege to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. The city was finally captured after several days of intense fighting. The fall of the government seemed imminent and made a desperate appeal to Russia for intervention.

Causes that Led to Russian Intervention
The successes of Jamaat al-Jihad had led Russia to believe that the fall of Uzbekistan was imminent. While a small country, the overthrow of its government would produce regional shock waves that Russia feared would undermine its influence in the region and possibly break apart the fragile Commonwealth of Independent States. A radical Islamic state would be incompatible with the restoration of Russian regional hegemony based upon nationalism and economic cooperation.

Initial Russian Operations
The immediate objective for Russia was to prevent the fall of the legitimate government. This task was given to the Air Force, which conducted air strikes throughout the country targeting known Jamaat al-Jihad positions in order to disrupt their offensive momentum. Many of these targets were located within urban centers, including Tashkent. As a result, there were numerous civilian casualties, with estimates as high as 10,000. The Russian government disputed these figures, arguing that civilian losses were minimal and under 300. The stringent control of media access by Russia prevented any kind of accurate figures from being collected.

During this time, Russia also prepared for the deployment of a number of Spetsnaz units and worked directly with the Uzbek military to ensure coordination of military resources.

Battle of Tashkent
A little after dawn, Russian special forces maneuvered by helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft to capture the international airport in Tashkent as a staging area for follow-on operations. Simultaneously, Uzbek military forces with the cooperation of high-ranking Russian officers encircled the city to prevent the entrance and exit of terrorist forces. For several days, Russian aircraft struck at suspected enemy positions, equipment, and concentrations. Without the capability to maneuver or counter-attack, Jamaat al-Jihad self-disbanded, in effect surrendering.

Aftermath
The results of the decisive Russian victory were several in number. Central Asia would remain dormant for the remainder of the round, an unchallenged sphere, excepting Afghanistan, of Russian influence. It also demonstrated the capability of Russia to manage a local war under high-tech conditions against an asymmetrical opponent. Finally, it severely cooled relations between Russia and [Iran]] because of the reported high number of civilian casualties (the vast majority Islamic followers), fueling a hostile attitude between the two governments that culminated in the Iran - Russia Confrontation.