*Birds of a Feather*
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Israel assault vs. UN/Hamas defend*
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Southern Lebanon*
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Second Decade of the 21st century*
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Hamas forces have been bombarding northern Israel from a complex of firebases located across the border in the foothills of the Shouf Mountains.  This scenario is nothing new but the new wrinkle this time UN "peacekeeping" forces have been actively supporting these bombardment operations by providing local security and targeting data for Arab forces.  Mossad assets report that chemical/biological capable units are being deployed to the fire base and plans are in hand to construct hardened ammunition storage and firing positions.*
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An Israeli reinforced armored company task force has been tasked with destroying one of these firebases.  An initial reconnaissance/screening force deploys early followed by the body of forces several turns later.  Artillery, attack helicopter, and air defense forces are also scheduled to arrive with the main body of forces.  A small engineer bulldozer detachment has been assigned to the operation.  A small airmobile commando force will also be deployed when the helicopter assets to transport it become available.  Off-board 203mm artillery support will be available throughout the mission.  Heavy artillery rocket units will be deployed later in the scenario.  A Pioneer drone has been provided for spotting support.*
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The approaches to the firebase are screened by several teams of light UN peacekeeper units supported by Fiat/OTO-6614 armored cars.  These units are dug in.  The known locations of these forces are marked on the map.  Behind these UN forces Hamas units are emplaced in positions which allow good fields of fire for anti-tank gun/ATGW weapons.  The firebase itself is located at the far East end of the battle area behind an extensive revetment/berm and is well provided with air defense fire units.  At the moment there are about a dozen MRL fire units of assorted types.  Commanders should be aware that UN forces have been providing targeting data for Hamas forces and most likely will do so during the course of this operation.  Hamas forces consist mostly of light infantry forces supporting their anti-tank emplacements.  Little or no armored resistance is expected.  The Hamas forces have been provided with attack helicopter support and the possibility of Syrian fixed wing air strikes cannot be discounted.  Some fortification activity has taken place but it is not believed that any of these fortifications have yet been provided with heavy weapons.
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The Israeli mission is to occupy and destroy the Hamas firebase.  A media pool vehicle will enter the battle area later in the mission.  The government has directed these media personnel be permitted to record Israeli military activity and evidence of UN/Hamas cooperation.*
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SPECIAL RULES*
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The Israeli player is prohibited from engaging UN forces by direct fire, indirect artillery, helicopter or air strikes at any time before receiving fire from UN units.  Hamas indirect artillery fire does NOT satisfy this requirement.  Note that this rule does not require that a firing UN unit be spotted to be engaged merely that a UN unit fire on an Israeli ground unit (not Air defense fire against drones and/or helicopter or air strikes).  This restriction does not apply to Hamas forces which may be engaged at any time.  Collateral or accidental fire on a UN unit while engaging nearby Hamas units is permissible.*
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The Israeli player has a Media Pool vehicle (along with a small security force).  The Israeli player must move this vehicle through at least one of the UN emplacements and it must be in or within line-of-sight of the Hamas firebase (i.e. an active or destroyed artillery/MRL units) during at some point during the course of the scenario.  This unit must survive to the end of the scenario.*
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Two player rules*
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The Hamas side has a Aj-Jazeria media pool vehicle assigned to it. In two player games the Hamas player is required to safeguard this vehicle in the same fashion as the Israeli media pool and it must be within line-of-site of at least one Israeli unit at some point during the game.  In one-player games there is no restriction on (or penalty for) firing on this vehicle (Go ahead, you know you want to...).*
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The penalty for not complying with these special rules is a reduction of victory level by one increment (Decisive to Marginal, marginal to draw, etc.)*
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Designer's note:  A while back while the Israelis were doing one of their periodic Lebanon incursions there was a report that UN "Peacekeeper" units were spotting for their Islamist pals.  This was the germ of the idea for this scenario.*
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Map design: Fred Reinheimer (with some help from the map randomizer...)*
Scenario Design (0.90): Fred Reinheimer (10:21 AM 3/27/08)*
basesurge@hotmail.com*