182: Peng Lin’s strategic planning!

“Does the Dragon Country mean that our ground forces should not invade Iran?”

“But we can ‘reciprocate’ Iran’s oil industrial facilities in the air?”

Inside the Elak Ministry of Defense, Saddam frowned, a pensive look in his deep eyes.

To be honest, Saddam was very unwilling to give up the opportunity to invade Iran with ground forces and expand his territory.

But now, the Dragon Country is Iraq's only backer in the International Community, and Saddam had to seriously consider the Dragon Country’s opinion.

“Ground forces cannot intervene…”

Saddam murmured to himself, carefully weighing the deeper meaning conveyed in the Dragon Country’s words.

Saddam could understand why the Dragon Country Military did not want Iraq's ground forces to enter Iranian territory.

Because once Iraq's ground forces entered Iranian territory, the USA and the Soviet Union would find a pretext, and might even impose sanctions on Iraq in the UN for military invasion and war crimes!

They might even issue an arms embargo against Iraq!

At that time, even the Dragon Country would not be able to stand against the Global community and continue to supply weapons to Iraq.

However, as long as Iraq's ground forces do not enter Iranian territory, even if the USA and the Soviet Union want to sanction Iraq in the UN, the Dragon Country can rally and unite many Middle Eastern, Asian, African, and Latin American countries to oppose it.

After all, Iran initiated the airstrikes in this conflict. As long as Iraq does not overreact and firmly occupies the moral high ground, the Dragon Country, with its crucial vote in the UN, will not allow any resolution to sanction Iraq to pass!

“Notify everyone to station the Ministry of National Defense Guard and Ministry of National Defense Vanguard forces in the border areas, but do not cross the border!”

Saddam issued the order.

Iran, supported by Superpowers, could launch demilitarization actions against Iraq at any time, but if Iraq dared to intervene with ground forces, it could face International Community sanctions.

This made Saddam very unwilling!

After all, the scales of war were currently tipped in Iraq's favor!

If he couldn't carve out a piece of Iran's territory, wouldn't he have fought this war for nothing?

“No!”

“The Dragon Country and Chief Designer Peng Lin mean that we can ‘reciprocate’ Iran’s oil industrial facilities in the air!”

“‘Reciprocate’…”

Saddam carefully pondered the words “reciprocate” repeatedly, and a smile suddenly appeared on his face.

“So, the Dragon Country had such a deeper meaning!”

Iraqi President Saddam showed a look of sudden realization.

He had originally wondered why the Dragon Country would be content to gain the initiative in the war but take no profit from Iran!

It turns out that the Dragon Country did not want to gain no profit from Iran, but rather wanted to stand on the side of justice and gain profit openly and honestly!

“Since it is ‘reciprocation,’ then the extent of our losses is something we can decide ourselves…”

“The Dragon Country’s strategy is truly brilliant!”

Saddam said with a smile, expressing his heartfelt admiration… The next day.

In the press hall of the Presidential Palace in Baghdad, Saddam, dressed in military uniform, had a sorrowful yet resolute expression.

Behind him, an electronic screen continuously displayed images of bombed oil field facilities.

“Last night, with the connivance of the two Superpowers, Iran brazenly launched a barbaric airstrike code-named ‘Iron Storm’!”

“Their missiles destroyed 17 drilling platforms, 3 refineries, and 2 oil storage bases in our Rumaila Oil Field, causing a sharp drop in daily crude oil production by 1.8 million barrels!”

“This is a devastating blow to our Iraqi oil industry!”

“Oil pipelines along the Shatt al-Arab are burning, black smoke obscures the sun. Iran is openly trampling on Global energy security and Iraq's sovereignty!”

“Even more outrageous is that the Iranian Air Force deliberately bombed the Baghdad Automobile Industrial Park, built with Dragon Country aid, causing 2,000 civilians to lose their jobs and direct economic losses exceeding 5 billion US dollars!”

Saddam said in a somber tone to the camera in the news hall.

Behind him, the electronic screen switched to footage of crying family members of workers in the ruins.

“We will not forget the painful damage Iran’s bombing has brought to our country, and the International Community should not forget it either!”

“When Iran’s Su-25s dropped cluster bombs on hospitals, their pilots laughed wildly on the communication channels!”

“When F-14 ‘Tomcats’ strafed refugee convoys, spokespersons from the The White House and the The Kremlin praised it as ‘precision strikes’!”

As Saddam spoke, he slammed his fist heavily on the podium, his face filled with grief and indignation.

Upon seeing his performance, all the international media reporters who had been invited pointed their cameras and flashlights at him frantically.

These international media reporters only knew that the Iraqi Air Force had achieved a great victory, but they never expected that Iraq had suffered such great losses in the war!

Especially as a Middle Eastern oil-producing country, the destruction of the oil field industry was absolutely a devastating blow to the country!

“But Iraq’s retaliation will be lawful, reciprocal, and restrained!”

“We have locked onto the coordinates of 12 military command centers, 8 air defense radar stations, and all 35 oil field facilities within Iran!”

“We will not attack any civilian targets within Iran, nor will we allow ground troops to set foot on Iranian territory for even a step!”

“But Iran’s military facilities must face the bloody retaliation of our Iraqi People’s Air Force!”

“Furthermore, every drop of Iraqi oil lost will be repaid tenfold!”

“The blood of every Iraqi civilian must be washed away by the trial of war criminals!”

Saddam faced the camera and roared in a deep voice.

After speaking, he removed his military cap and bowed his head in mourning towards the large screen behind him!

The large screen was showing images of the Iranian Air Force’s full-scale airstrikes against Iraq last night!

At this moment, the entire Presidential Palace news hall was silent.

Every soldier in the Presidential Palace had red eyes.

And the Iraqi civilians outside the Presidential Palace, upon hearing Saddam’s vow, erupted in cheers like an earthquake!

Flashlights once again focused on Saddam.

At this moment, even the international media reporters who had been invited were moved.

Facing such national and personal grievances, they never expected that Saddam, who was called a Middle Eastern dictator by the mainstream International Community, would act so restrained, even declaring only reciprocal retaliation against Iran, attacking only military facilities and oil industries, and absolutely not harming any civilian facilities!

At this moment, even these international media reporters even began to support Saddam’s action plan!

Saddam then struck while the iron was hot, continuing to announce:

“Our Iraqi government calls for a UN investigation team to immediately enter and document this humanitarian disaster orchestrated by the Superpowers!”

“And Iraq’s Eagles of Vengeance have now flown over the Shatt al-Arab!”