Chapter: 3134

The chances of destroying the fortifications with towed artillery fire are almost non-existent. The only way to blow them up would be by using advanced heavy ground-penetrating bombs, but these weapons are only available to the five permanent members of the United Nations. Syria’s military capabilities are stuck at a level from the 1960s and 1970s, making it impossible for them to acquire such technology. Even if they did have it, they wouldn’t be able to harm Hamid’s troops directly, as there are no soldiers stationed at the front lines.

Hamid was following Charlie Wade’s orders closely. Since the enemy was coordinating their infantry attacks, Hamid planned to hold his troops back until the artillery stopped and the infantry began their charge. Right now, his soldiers were safely hidden in tunnels on the reverse slope of the mountain. Enemy shells rained down, but not a single soldier was injured.

While the opposing artillery was bombarding the area, their infantry advanced quickly. After more than an hour, over 5,000 soldiers reached the foot of the mountain, just two kilometers from Hamid’s base. At that moment, another round of bombing started.

The front slope of the mountain was filled with smoke and destruction, and the small mountaintop was quickly being devastated. This was the last round of shelling before the infantry would charge. Once they started, the bombardment needed to stop to avoid hurting their own troops. However, the enemy commander was unaware of the true situation inside the mountain. Based on his past experiences, he believed that Hamid’s forces had been significantly weakened and that their defenses were crumbling.

Hamid’s base was mostly destroyed, so he quickly ordered his infantry to charge while being protected by armored vehicles. His base was naturally easy to defend and hard to attack. Once the entrances at the north and south were blocked, no one could enter, including vehicles. This meant that the armored vehicles couldn’t go straight in. Their only option was to support the infantry as they tried to take the high ground, while also providing machine gun and artillery support from close range.

From the safety of the permanent fortifications at the front, Hamid watched as the enemy’s armored vehicles got closer and closer. Thousands of soldiers followed behind them, advancing to the foot of the mountain without taking any damage, thanks to the cover provided by the armored vehicles. Suddenly, the enemy’s artillery fired again, launching a new wave of shells at the front slope of the high ground.

The shelling went on for twenty minutes. As soon as it stopped, thousands of soldiers poured out from behind the armored vehicles, shouting as they charged toward the high ground. The enemy commander believed that if they captured the high ground, they would effectively take control of the entire Hamid base.

This traditional ground battle was crucial because whoever controlled the high ground had the advantage. In a local war, taking the high ground meant gaining the upper hand in the area, creating a strong deterrent for the enemy. The high ground was also easier to defend and harder to attack. Even if five thousand soldiers attacked, they might struggle against five hundred who were already positioned on the high ground.

When defending, those on high ground had the advantage, while attackers from lower ground faced significant challenges. When the high ground forces charged, the defenders below were at a serious disadvantage, making it very difficult for them to hold their position.

It was hard for Hamid’s troops to retreat because their backs would be exposed to the enemy. The opposing commander saw this as a chance. He believed that even if Hamid still had many soldiers, capturing the high ground would give him the advantage. From there, he could charge down into Hamid’s base and end the battle quickly.

As thousands of enemy soldiers rushed forward, Hamid’s men began moving into their fortified positions from a hidden tunnel on the reverse slope. Once the enemy was fully within range of Hamid’s defenses, he made a quick decision. He picked up the radio and ordered, “Fire!”