Southwest Khataiy
The 15th Mechanised Battalion pushed south, heading into Latakia Governorate along the coast. They had received orders from Levant Command (LEVCOM), informing them of ongoing battles between the Syrian government, various rebel groups and an Inyurstan force within the coastal provinces and directing them to strike south, planning to cut off government forces from access to the coast and securing the port cities of Latakia and Tartus. Intelligence informed them that the regions of Latakia bordering Khataiy were currently held by rebel groups, but given the diverse nature of rebel elements it was unknown if they would prove friendly to the PRA expeditionary force, allied with Khatiay though they may be. Thus, they maintained a wary eye on the surrounding terrain, ever-suspicious of a potential ambush.
Of course, a single battalion was not exactly capable of capturing the province from Syrian government forces, even if the 15th Mechanised was closer to a small brigade in size. It was therefore not their intention to launch this operation single-handedly, but rather to carefully apply pressure to government forces and assist the rebels, along with a potential Khataiyi force should they decide to assist in this endeavour. A message was therefore sent to the Khataiyi ministry of defence or whatever equivalent they possessed, requesting assistance.
To: Khataiy Government
From: LEVCOM, ASR
Subject: Latakian Advance
Encryption: Qara Div
The 15th Mechanised Battalion is presently advancing into Latakia Governorate to pressure Assad-aligned forces and secure the province, particularly the city of Latakia itself and its strategically valuable port. We request that you assist in this endeavour, either by providing direct military support and/or by directing rebel groups under your influence to do likewise. Air support would be particularly valuable in ensuring the success of this operation, and if you could possibly convince SACTO forces to supply this asset, it will prove to be most useful.
Lankaran Region, near Iranian Border
Socialist Republic of Azerbaijan
A sizeable force of the People's Red Army had gathered in the Lankaran Region in preparation for the coming military exercises alongside Khataiyi forces. The operation, codenamed 'Cəza' in the PRA's lexicon, would demonstrate to neighbouring Iran that the ASR and Khataiy were standing together against Iranian regional imperialism, and were prepared to curb their influence through military action if necessary.
The Commissariat of Agitation and Propaganda had deployed its own film crews to the site, recording the manoeuvres for use in a propaganda video displaying the might of the ASR and their Khataiyi allies. And indeed, the whole exercise was designed to display a sense of strength and vigour, with columns of T-72 and T-90 main battle tanks rumbling over the fields of the Lankaran lowland, accompanied by mechanised infantry, rocket artillery and mobile SAM systems as a flight of MiG-21s and 29s roared overhead. Of course, this display demonstrated the bulk of the PRA's tanks and combat aircraft, crafting an image of great strength simply by placing the strongest forces of the PRA all in one place. Now that the Khataiyi had arrived, the exercise could begin in earnest.