Operation Banana

Operation Banana
Part of the the Creeperian Conflicts and the First Ferunian Separatist War
The damaged hotel after the operation The damaged hotel after the operation The damaged hotel after the operation
Operational scope	Decapitation strike
Location	Polo, New Illyricum
Planned	August – December 2006
Planned by	National Intelligence Directorate
Commanded by	Leonardo Magrina Magrina Diego Molina Gallo
Target	Antonio Gisbert Alcabú, Regent of the Creeperian Government-in-Exile
Date	17 December 2006 (2006-12-17) 12:15 a.m. – 2:10 a.m. (TSI)
Executed by	National Intelligence Directorate Creeperian Army
Outcome	Antonio Gisbert Alcabú captured
Casualties	20 killed (ELC and LRCC) 6 injured (operatives)

Operation Banana (Creeperian: Ոպերածիօն Բանանա / Operación Banana; Creeperian pronunciation: [opeɾaˈsjon βaˈnana]) was the joint Creeperian–Lyoan military operation conducted during the early morning of 17 December 2006. The operation, conducted by the Creeperian Army and the National Intelligence Directorate (DINA), ended in the capture Antonio Gisbert Alcabú, the regent of the Creeperian Government-in-Exile, an Alfonsist rebel group established in the aftermath of the 2003 Creeperian coup d'état. The operation is considered by the Creeperian government to be a part of Operation Genesis 19:24–25.

Prior to the operation's execution, the Lyoa National Defense Force (LNDF) launched Operation Unified Dignity to serve as a distraction against the forces of the Lyoan Revolutionary Command Council (LRCC) and Free Creeperian Army (ELC). During the operation, the soldiers and agents of the army, DINA, and SSS arrested both Gisbert Alcabú and his wife, along with killing twenty militants of the LRCC and ELC. A total of twenty people were killed during the operation, all of whom were soldiers of the LRCC and ELC, and the hotel where the operation occurred was severely damaged. The operatives suffered six injuries, but no fatalities. The entire operation was conducted in the early morning of 17 June 2020 right after the conclusion of Operation Unified Dignity.

The Creeperian government announced the outcome of the operation the following day on 18 June 2020 during the 18 June Liberation Parade in San Salvador, during which, Gisbert Alcabú was publicly executed by a firing squad of tanks. He was succeeded by Andrés Andino Cazalla as Regent, however, the government would later collapse on 27 June 2020, with some factions surrendering to Lyoan and Creeperian authorities while others continued to resist. Andino Cazalla himself was extradited to Creeperopolis and later executed in July 2020. Some leaders and soldiers of the former government-in-exile continue to resist in Lyoa, however, since the collapse of the government-in-exile, they have been considered to be minor belligerents.

Within the Cooperation and Development Coalition (CODECO), of which Creeperopolis and Lyoa were members, the operation was applauded and celebrated. Government officials and military officers made statements and remarks regarding the operation, overwhelmingly in support. In Creeperopolis, the operation is celebrated each 18 June during the 18 June Liberation Parade with a line of tanks each firing their shells to symbolize Gisbert Alcabú's execution. Outside of CODECO, other regions in Sur, and online Surian and Lyoan communities, the operation received very little foreign attention.

Background

File:Antonio Manuel Gisbert y Alcabú (2019).jpg

Regent Antonio Gisbert Alcabú in Menon in 2005

The Creeperian Government-in-Exile (GOCREX) was established in August 2003 by supporters of the deposed and killed Emperor Alfonso VI, by his former government officials, and by sympathetic soldiers and military officers. The government-in-exile established itself in southeastern New Illyricum where it received the support of New Illyrian government. Although many of GOCREX's leaders opposed communism, they announced their willingness to cooperate with the New Illyrian communist government to regain power in Creeperopolis. The government-in-exile designated Polo, just south of the city of Menon in SE Italia Oest, as its capital-in-exile.

GOCREX was led by Lieutenant General Antonio Gisbert Alcabú who assumed the title of "regent", claiming to be ruling in place of Alfonso VI's legitimate heir and successor. GOCREX proclaimed Salvador Martínez Hernández, the third son of Alfonso VI whom GOCREX styled as Emperor Salvador IV, as their leader. Martínez Hernández rejected GOCREX's proclamation, and he later died in mysterious circumstances in 2004. GOCREX accused the National Intelligence Directorate (DINA), the intelligence agency of Creeperopolis, of assassinating Martínez Hernández.

In June 2006 following continued ethnic oppression and military conflict in the region, members of the Free Ferunian Army (LAF) took control of Ferunia, Trurnia, Marinicum, and Polonovo. The forces declared the establishment of the independent semi-fascist republics of Ferunia, Trurnia, The Eisley, and Polonovo and Tolo, which covered all of southern New Illyricum. Soon after Grand Marshall of the Union Julio Faeo was replaced by Beneçito Foestolo as acting Marshall, who began immediate operations in the First Ferunian Separatist War.

Prelude

Operational planning

Sometime in July 2006, the DINA contacted the Royal Security Service (SRS), the intelligence agency of Pavulturilor, and proposed an operation to capture or assassinate Gisbert Alcabú in a decapitation strike type of operation using Pavulturilor military facilities. The SRS agreed to allow the Creeperian government to carry out the operation from Pavulturilor. The operation was given the designation of "Operation Banana" during the planning process. The Creeperian government considers Operation Banana to be a part of Operation Genesis 19:24–25, a Creeperian government campaign of political and social repression, suppression information, and state terror aimed at suppressing leftist movements and capturing political dissidents.

List of operatives

In February 2022, the identities of the operatives involved in Operation Banana which had not yet been declassified up to that point were released by the Creeperian government. The operatives involved included:

National Intelligence Directorate	Creeperian Army
Major Leonardo Magrina Magrina Captain Javíer Mina Espina Captain David Fonseca López Captain Julio Ros Berrocal Captain Umberto Tejedor Pomar Captain Gabriel Figueroa Montes Captain Juan Figueroa Montes Captain Justin Venegas Arrabal Lieutenant Ignacio Zoido Alcocer Lieutenant Cristóbal Fonseca Barrios Lieutenant Benjamín Andrade Seco Lieutenant Ernesto Cruz Palacio Lieutenant Valentino Martí Cambiero Lieutenant Mario Abellán Arnal Lieutenant Ramón Franco Mastache Lieutenant Pablo Cambiero Mariano Lieutenant Jesús Sarmiento Franco Lieutenant Luís Palacio Aparicio Lieutenant Alexander Quesada Casaus Lieutenant Alfonso Luna Barrios Lieutenant Rubén Gallo Sánchez	Major Diego Molina Gallo Captain Mario Valerio Cadaval Captain Alfonso Gallo Saavedra Captain Guillermo Bienvenida Arnal Corporal Matías Gálvez Tejedor Corporal Valentín Leguizamo Pareja Corporal Ángel Ferrant Carvallo Corporal Primitivo Dengra Hernández Corporal Manuel Céspedes Rubio Corporal Carlos Semprún Graciani Corporal Alfonso Semprún Graciani Corporal Orlando Gutiérrez Molina Corporal Macos Gómez Encarnación Corporal Sergio Palau Nores Corporal Fabián Villa Rouco Corporal Emmanuel Zorrito Saavedra Corporal Óscar Palacio Palacio Corporal Adolfo Lain Valerio Corporal Jeremías Covarrubias Coronil Corporal Vidal Chicote Fuentes Corporal Gerardo Puig Prats
Source: National Intelligence Directorate

Organization of operatives and equipment

Prior to the operation, the Creeperian Armed Forces (FAC) began transporting the designated operatives and needed military equipment to the Sdot Katse Airbase in Comăşti, a city in southwestern Pavulturilor near the New Illyrian border. There, the operatives trained in the the local wilderness in preparation for the operation. Under the cover of night, the FAC transported three Maroto Botín H-3 helicopters, soldiers, weapons, medical equipment, ammunition, explosives, and other materials to the Sdot Katse Airbase in preparation for the operation. The soldiers of the Creeperian Army sent to participate in the operation were from the 1st Creeperian Infantry Division, more commonly known as the Black Division, while the DINA sent agents from its Detachment A4 (Protective Services). Soldiers from the Anti-Terrorist Brigade (BAT) and the Pavulturilori Air Force were stationed at the military base throughout the operation's preparation.

Each Maroto Botín H-3 helicopter was armed with a mounted Figueroa-33 medium machine gun and each agent and soldier had a Figueroa-26 automatic assault rifle with a night vision scope. Each soldier also had a secondary Figueroa-3 pistol. One soldier was armed with a Figueroa-203 submachine gun, another with a Figueroa-17 Tipo-2007 sniper rifle with a night vision scope, and another with a Figueroa-818 shotgun. All of the soldiers' pistols and automatic rifles were silenced. Each soldier and agent additionally was armed with a machete. Exact details of the operatives' weaponry was classified until January 2022.

Operation Unified Dignity

In September 2006 President of Polonovo and Tolo Publio Saleo began to initiate Operation Unified Dignity in connection with Operation Banana and Creeperian forces. The operation had two main objectives, firstly to secure airfields near Janosovo to allow easier access to foreign aid, and secondly to divert New Illyrian troops from Polo to allow Creeperopolis to operate in the city.

Polonovan Populist Legion soldiers during the beginning of Operation Unified Dignity in Tolo.

On 5 September, the Polonovan Populist Legion (PLP) announced the beginning of Operation Unified Dignity. Minister of Defense, Jo Filo, stated in an official announcement:

"Today we have launched Operation Unified Dignity, in which the combined forces of our Populist Legion and the Free Ferunian Army will capture Janosovo and free our oppressed brothers and sisters from the yoke of communism! New Illyricum has maintained their oppressive control over this city for far too long, and our fighters will liberate it from their grip."

Jo Filo, Minister of Defense (5 September 2006)

The combined forces of the PLP and the LAF numbered about 15,000 infantry with minimal armor and artillery support under the leadership of Jo Filo and Julio Peneo. The force advanced in two major lines northeastward from Tolo, meeting little Illyrian resistance until they reached the town of Marçenonicum where elements of the 5th Armored Brigade and the 10th Infantry Division engaged separatist forces. The combat would last for four weeks before Illyrian troops were forced to pull out due to supply issues, however the PLP suffered heavy casualties and the operation soon became bogged down outside Janosovo.

Operation

At 12:15 a.m. TSI (3:15 a.m. TSS), the DINA and the Black Division initiated the operation to either capture or assassinate Gisbert Alcabú. According to declassified documents released by the DINA, the three Maroto Botín H-3 helicopters, each carrying seven DINA agents and seven FAC soldiers, took off from Sdot Katse Airbase in Comăşti and flew west to Polo.

The journey took thirty-six minutes from Comăşti to Polo. The helicopters landed one mile away from Polo in a clearing north of the city. The forty-two men moved quietly through the jungle towards Polo; the fifteen minute march went uneventful. The operatives reached the outskirts of the city and slowly made their way under the cover of night to the hotel which had served as the provisional headquarters of the GOCREX since 2004.

After entering the hotel and arresting Gisbert Alcabú and his wife, a New Illyrian Army patrol noticed the group escaping, and opened fire. The operatives returned fire upon, killing the two New Illyrian soldiers. This, together with the operatives detonating explosives within the hotel, alerted more patrols, which began to converge on the area. Another small firefight ensued as the operatives reached the edge of the jungle. Four LRCC men fired upon the operatives, who fired back and killed the four LRCC fighters. The operatives then retreated into the jungle with Gisbert Alcabú and his wife, marching back to the landing zone where the helicopters awaited their arrival. The return trip took another fifteen minutes, with the forces quickly loading up onto the helicopters. The soldiers then began treating each other's wounds while Magrina Magrina informed Gisbert Alcabú of various criminal charges which the Creeperian government held against him. Upon landing in Comăşti, Gisbert Alcabú and his wife were transfered onto a Creeperian Air Force Maroto Botín MB-11 and flown back to Creeperopolis.

Aftermath

Casualties and losses

During the operation, the Creeperian and Lyoan operatives only suffered six injuries with no fatalities. One was suffered by the SSS, to by the DINA, and three by the army. The injuries were deemed non-life threatening and the six injured operatives were treated in the Nyabari Military Hospital. The exact natures of the injuries were never declassified.

On the side of the Free Creeperian Army and Lyoan Revolutionary Command Council, twenty total fatalities were suffered. The ELC lost thirteen soldiers while the LRCC lost seven soldiers. It is unknown if any more were injured, or if anymore died but their deaths were never recorded. The government-in-exile later claimed that the hotel which was infiltrated had been heavily damaged by the operation. They also claimed that the operatives had looted homes, assaulted men, raped women, and kidnapped children, claims which were strongly denied by the army, DINA, and SSS.

Fate of Gisbert Alcabú and his family

After the operation, he was charged by the Creeperian and Lyoan governments with a combined 110 charges, several of which were capital crimes. He and his wife were then transported to Creeperopolis by the Creeperian Air Force. The following day, 18 June 2020, the Creeperian Armed Forces was preforming the annual 18 June Liberation Parade which celebrated the anniversary of the 2003 Creeperian coup d'état. Due to his prominent role in Alfonso VI's government and GPRCE, Gisbert Alcabú was publicly shown at the parade, during which the operation was publicly acknowledged by the Creeperian government. Emperor Alexander II stated:

The Intelligence Directorate, Armed Forces, and Lyoan Special Security Service, boarded helicopters from Nyabari and flew south to Syrina, the capital of the treasonous "government-in-exile." The special forces snuck into the city, entered the hotel the "Regent," Antonio Gisbert Alcabú, was staying at, and captured and arrested him. The Free Creeperian Army attempted to stop justice from occurring, but the special forces of the Intelligence Directorate and the Armed Forces prevailed and killed 13 traitors to the Empire and 7 additional enemies of our ally, Lyoa. Here we have disgraced former Lieutenant General Antonio Gisbert Alcabú standing before us to be put on trial.

— Emperor Alexander II (18 June 2020)

File:Colonel Leonardo Magrina Magrina (2021).png

Col. Leonardo Magrina Magrina.

After his announcement, Alexander II read aloud all of the charges brought forth against Gisbert Alcabú, totaling 110, finding him guilty of all of the charges. The charges ranged from treason and terrorism to homosexuality and shoplifting. After each charge, he declared Gisbert Alcabú to be guilty of the charge, and he was sentenced to death. As the conclusion of the parade, the Creeperian government had Gisbert Alcabú publicly executed by a firing squad of VEPRES 132/1 Cruzadore II heavy tanks in front of a crowd of an estimated 130,000 people. Additionally, Magrina Magrina was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel by Alexander II as a reward for his leadership in the operation.

His wife was not present at the parade and no mentions of her were made following her return to Creeperopolis. Her fate has since been unknown, however, it is believed that she is currently imprisoned in a Creeperian prison, likely the Tuxtla Martínez–Panachor Maximum Correctional Facility (TMP) or has been silently executed. Similarly, it was known at the time that the couple's son was living with them in Syrina, however, the Creeperian government never stated that they had captured their son, and his whereabouts have never been confirmed since the conclusion of the operation. Rumors spread in Lyoa in the aftermath of the operation that Gisbert Alcabú's son had been killed by the operatives and that his body was hidden in order to avoid controversy, however, the rumors have never been confirmed and has been dismissed as hearsay by the Creeperian and Lyoan governments.

Effects of Operation Unified Dignity

After the conclusion of Operation Banana, Operation Unified Dignity ceased, as it was revealed by the LNDF after the fact that its true purpose was to distract the LRCC and to force them to move troops out of Syrina to allow for Operation Banana to occur. During the operation, however, the LNDF was able to recover several villages and front line positions from the rebels, but not much ground was gained as that was not the intent of the offensive.

Dissolution of the government-in-exile

Following Gisbert Alcabú's capture, leadership of the Creeperian Government-in-Exile fractured into various splinter factions seeking to assume control over the government-in-exile. In 2007, the New Illyrian government announced the dissolution of both the Creeperian Government-in-Exile and the Free Creeperian Army. The New Illyrian government stated that GOCREX and the ELC had both become liabilities to the continued fight against separatists in southern New Illyricum and that the government took "swift and immediate action" to eliminate the perceived liability posed by both groups. Many of the GOCREX and ELC's leaders were subsequently arrested by the New Illyrian government and their remaining members fled the country.

For the Creeperian government, the operation effectively eliminated the question of its legitimacy. Although the government's legitimacy had never been significantly questioned since the coronation of Alexander II, prior to then, the government-in-exile was seen as a serious threat to the government's position as the sole legitimate government of Creeperopolis. The operation also effectively destroyed the remaining Alfonsist claim of being the legitimate government of Creeperopolis. Since the GOCREX's collapse, no major political movement or militant group has claimed to be the successors of the Alfonsist claim.

Reactions to the operation

Government and military officials from both Creeperopolis publicly applauded the result of the operation. Caudillo Augusto Cabañeras Gutiérrez, the Minister of Defense of Creeperopolis, declared that "the terroristic threats and actions of Alcabú will now be silenced forever and the Creeperans will now be a safer people". Nicolás Correa Encarnación, the Minister of External Affairs of Creeperopolis, stated that "Operation Banana serves as a testament to the continued cooperation between Pavulturilor and Creeperopolis".

Heads of state and government ministers of Cooperation and Development Coalition (CODECO) member countries applauded the operation. Eli Shitrit, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pavulturilor, stated that Pavulturilor was a "staunch enemy of terrorism" and that the Pavulturilori government had helped Creeperopolis "eliminate such a foe". He also condemned New Illyricum for "their cooperation with terrorism" and its "oppression of minorities". On the internet, the phrase "The King has Fallen" in a mocking manner circulated widely amongst Creeperian online communities on websites such as Dice!, TuVu, Twitter, Shichan. Outside of Sur and its communities online, however, the event received very little foreign attention or recognition.

See also

Creeperopolis portal Terraconserva portal

• Operation Genesis 19:24–25

External links

• Operation Banana – Full Text (NationStates; 17 June 2020)