Ben Bo Bien, Doi Nam – The offensive launched over a week ago into the north of Doi Nam by the Doinamese Army to root out and destroy the DLA has hit a stumbling block. The dense jungle combined with the DLAs use of guerilla tactics has resulted in a slowing of progress by the regular Doinamese Army. While initially the offensive captured a number of key targets utilizing heavy armor, the ongoing fighting has favored infantry firefights at short ranges in heavily forested terrain. Due to this, it has been difficult for government forces to move their armor into positions where it is needed, and has led to them becoming reliant of back roads through the countryside which are not always able to reach DLA strongholds and are easily mined with IEDs.
Casualties inflicted upon the Doinamese Army have, reportedly, been significant due to this intense fighting, with it mainly being borne by the infantry and other light units. Morale has also begun to plummet among the troops, as the constant harassing attacks by DLA forces has begun to take its toll. Further, it has also been documented that the DLA has turned to 3D-printed firearms and homemade suicide drones to bridge the capability gap. While unsuited to use as proper rifles at engagement ranges, the close-in fighting of the jungle environment favors the small calibers used by these polymer guns. The drones, for their part, are more than capable of navigating the dense forests, using tree cover to mask their approach before detonating modified hand grenades and other explosives on remote triggers.
All this combined has resulted in hellish conditions for government troops. However, the DLA also faces significant challenges. Many of their ongoing engagements still largely result in government victories, as DLA forces presently lack the staying-power to force decisive action. Their tactics, as previously stated, have shifted to quick hit-and-fade attacks, as previous attempts to stand and fight during the initial assault ended in disaster.
Despite this, the official stance from the Government is that the offensive will likely still achieve its desired objective by the end of the week. General Phuoc has already announced the deployment of additional forces to reinforce the offensive and break the stubborn DLA defense. The DLA, for its part, has remained largely radio-silent on the matter, likely showing how dire their situation is. It appears likely that, while it may not happen as quickly as military planers envisioned, the Doinamese Government may yet still achieve its goals of eradicating the DLA.
