Combat Operations Ramp Up - Proxy-War Fears Loom

In an apparent follow-up of attacks by Joint Task Force Heavy, the towns of Sall Ala, Khasab, and Salhad have been successfully liberated by both ground and air elements.

The decisive actions taken by both forces have had an immediate positive reaction by the UAE and Oman Governments, and the public alike - with citizens bursting into the streets in celebration.

While the critical praise was very welcome to Joint Task Force Heavy, they did lose an F-16C Viper to enemy fire. Two Ka-50 Blacksharks in the Salhad fight were also lost - one crashed after a suspected mechanical failure, and the other managed to auto-rotate to safety after sustaining three hits from MANPADS guarding the area.

The pilot of the F-16C was hit approximately 60 miles West of Al Dhafra AB, and search and rescue efforts are underway to find the location of the wreckage and pilot.

Residents in Khasab are especially happy about the ouster of the enemy combatants - who were described as brutal to their population while there. One delighted citizen explained what he saw of the retreat: "They were screaming and climbing over each other while piling into helicopters! It was glorious to see the cowardice as the helicopters could barely get away in time! They could barely get off the ground!" Just minutes after the final helicopter left, US Marines rolled in and began securing the city - clearing out all remaining combatants.

Regular patrols of the region will be the latest challenge for the units stationed in the UAE - as it has become clear that the peninsula's security is always at stake.