Lisboa Attacks
The partisan attacks committed in Lisboa would damaged Belem Palace and leave 22 dead, including Foreign Secretary Wilma Sampaio and her family, as well as 55 more that are severely or critically injured. No cabinet ministers were present at Belem the day of the attack but lives of cabinet liaison and staff were unfortunately claimed.
Multiple car bombs detonated at Foreign Secretary Wilma Sampaio's motorcade that was en route to leave the Foreign Office building. Her security detail attempted to move the Foreign Secretary indoors but snipers positioned along the sides of the roads laid fire on Sampaio and her detail. The drive-by-shooting attack that took place at Sampaio's private residence, would kill the family of Sampaio's daughter, including Sampaio's three-year old granddaughter.
At the order of President Oluwakemi Taliscas, the Prime Minister has announced that Portugal's threat level is now classified as 'severe.' The change in the threat level means armed military personnel will be deployed to guard "key locations" in Portugal, as well as certain events like "sports matches" and "concerts." She said those personnel will take the place of armed police officers, who will be deployed elsewhere. Armed military personnel will be under the command of local police forces, who will decide how to deploy them. Additional resources will be made available to police as they work to keep Portugal safe.
Following the attacks, the Centro Nacional de Cibersegurança (CNCS) disclosed that they have suppressed a concerted attack against Portugal's telecommunication companies. The CNCS details that they have obtained a footage linked with the attempted cyber attack that has identified Chico Manquinho. While the cyber attack were unsuccessful, it revealed a worrying limitation of Portugal's cyber defense. The Executive Director of Cyber Command (CNCS) has announced that procedures are taking place to ramp up the defense of Portuguese critical infrastructure from malicious cyber activity.
The most recent terror attack since the 2023 Lisboa and Norte attacks, the Prime Minister has set out her plans for a "Commission for Countering Extremism" in the wake of the Lisboa terror attack. The commission is being established as a statutory body, legally compelled to identify extremism in communities where it threatens to undermine Portuguese values. Its role would be to encourage people and employers to recognize and challenge extremism, and seek to stamp it out in the same way there has been a marked shift in public attitudes to racism in recent years. The commission would also advise the Government on what new laws might be required to assert Portuguese, pluralistic values over extremist ones.
Portugal and the Spanish Federation in Iberia
The Portuguese and Spanish governments have agreed to terms of a peace-deal related to the Galician conflict and the Spanish Federation in Iberia's exit from the conflict. The following terms were reached:
- Demilitarization of the Spanish-Portuguese border, all Spanish and Portuguese troops are to withdraw
- Unilateral Spanish withdrawal from the Galician conflict
- The signing of a Non-Aggression Pact between the countries
- Commitment to a future Iberian Union (similar to Benelux) of political and intergovernmental cooperation
- Respecting the sovereignty of a post-war liberated Galicia free of South American influence
- Guaranteed DEU access to the Strait of Gibraltar
- Guaranteed end to Spanish aid of communists in Africa
- Guaranteed refusal of entry to any FSR/Puertollano/Chinese military forces in the Iberian Peninsula
The 297,000 service members originally deployed in defensive measures throughout Portugal's border with the Spanish Federation in Iberia and the 496 battle tanks, 938 AFVs, 128 MLRS, 776 artillery and self-propelled systems will not withdraw from the border yet until Spanish withdrawal coincides.
Operation Esforço Máximo
The latest Lisboa terror attack has fired up morale throughout Portugal and in the Armed Forces. In Galicia, a decisive shift in strategy has been made towards strategic bombardment.
The new operation, called Esforço Máximo da Operação (Operation Maximum Effort) is an aerial bombing campaign to be conducted against targets in Galicia. The operation is to be conducted for the next three days with possible re-evaluation unless the Galician government agrees to come to the table at the CSN Headquarters to negotiate a peace deal. Unlike previous operations, this operation is to be a "maximum effort" bombing campaign (hence the name) to destroy major target complexes in Galicia.
The first three missions of the operation are to be flown as planned on three consecutive nights. On the first night 87 bombers were launched. 39 support aircraft from the Air Force, the Navy and the Marines supported the bombers by providing F-16 fighter escorts, F-15E SAM-suppression missions, Air Force F/A-18 Hornet and Navy EA-18G radar-jamming aircraft, chaff drops, KC-135 refueling capability, and search and rescue aircraft.
The targets of the first wave of bombers are the airfields at A Coruña Airport, Santiago de Compostela Airport and Vigo–Peinador Airport and supply depots and complexes while the second and third waves struck targets around Santiago de Compostela (capital) itself.
The second night would see 93 sorties flown by the bombers. Their targets included rail networks and harbors. Deepwater harbors were targeted, including the Marina of Vigo, Ria of Ferrol and Port of A Coruña. Other harbor targets include Curuxeiras Port and the Mariana of Baiona. Rail networks targeted include: the Eje Atlántico that stretches from A Coruña in the north down to Vigo in the south, that passes through Santiago de Compostela and Pontevedra; Ferrol, Lugo and Monforte de Lemos; Ourense; and Santiago de Compostela. The third day would send bombers targeting further supply depots, industrial potential and rail networks in an effort to cripple guerrilla and South American-backed forces. A total of 103 long range Tomahawk cruise missile strikes would accompany the three-day operation's targets.
Portugal
All forward bases, as well as major civilian airports within range of opposition artillery in the bordering districts of Viana do Castelo, Branganca, Villa Real and Braga have begun to be evacuated.
Portuguese SAM systems, including Hawk XXI, Patriot PAC-2 and SM-2III would be deployed in the bordering districts to Galicia to leave opposition air forces relegated to a defensive role.
The President has also authorized the mobilization of 40,000 service members to the four bordering districts accompanied by 270 tanks, 180 AFVs, 90 helicopters, 380 artillery pieces and 140 military aircraft (not to Galicia.) The mobilization beyond aircraft and helicopter support will include field hospitals and electronic warfare capabilities.