A New India
Chapter 220 - 220: Counter Attacking

Victory had come at a heavy cost, but now, the combined forces prepared for something they had not dared until now, a counterattack.

Orders were given and plans drawn

The time had come to push back the invading forces of the United Kingdom, France, and Israel, starting with their weakest link: the French positions.

Major Arun Prakash stood surrounded by his senior commanders and Egyptian allies.

His voice was low but firm, cutting through the tension in the air. "The French lines are stretched thin. Their coordination is weak, and their armor is lagging behind the British. We hit them hard, and we break their center. Once their lines collapse, we push straight into the Israeli and British flanks."

Colonel Nair, the artillery commander, nodded.

"We've repositioned the batteries. If we focus our fire on their rear supply lines, they'll crumble before they can regroup."

Captain Ravi Malik, leading the forward infantry units, spoke up. "The French infantry is scattered, but their mechanized units are holding strong. If we're not careful, they'll pull us into an ambush."

Prakash gestured to the map spread across the hood of a jeep. "That's why we're coordinating with the Gurkhas. Sergeant Bahadur's men will flank their artillery and create enough chaos to force them into retreat. Once they're on the back foot, we drive them into the teeth of our firepower."

As dawn broke, the Indian and Egyptian forces launched their assault.

The artillery opened up first, with Nair's guns raining down shells on the French supply convoys and rear positions.

The explosions tore through trucks and ammunition stores, sending plumes of fire and smoke into the sky.

The French soldiers scrambled to respond, their lines thrown into confusion.

From the ridges, the Gurkhas moved swiftly and silently, their movements masked by the chaos.

Sergeant Man Bahadur led his men through the rocky terrain, their rifles at the ready.

They reached the French artillery positions undetected, where gunners were desperately trying to return fire.

Bahadur raised his hand, signaling his men to attack.

The Gurkhas descended like shadows, their rifle fire precise and deadly.

Within moments, the French artillery crews were overwhelmed.

Bahadur's voice crackled over the radio. "Artillery neutralized. Their flank is exposed."

Hearing this, Prakash gave the order. "All units, advance. Push them hard, don't let them regroup!"

The Indian infantry surged forward, their boots pounding the sand as they charged the French positions.

Malik's Rajputana Rifles led the vanguard, their rifles and machine guns tearing through the scattered French defenses.

Malik himself was at the front, shouting commands as his men pressed the attack.

"Keep moving!" he yelled, his voice cutting through the din of battle. "Don't let them dig in!"

The French, caught off guard by the ferocity of the assault, attempted to hold their ground.

Their armored carriers fired desperately into the advancing Indian troops, but the combination of artillery and infantry fire was too much.

One by one, their vehicles were destroyed, their crews forced to abandon them under a hail of bullets.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian forces joined the attack. Hassan led his men in a pincer movement, cutting off the retreating French units.

On the western flank, Malik's men encountered a fortified French position a line of sandbagged machine gun nests guarding a narrow pass.

The advance ground to a halt as the machine guns opened fire, pinning the Indian troops down.

"Captain, we're taking heavy fire!" one of Malik's sergeants shouted, ducking behind cover as bullets kicked up sand around him.

Malik scanned the terrain, his mind racing. "Bring up the recoilless rifles," he ordered. "We'll take out those nests one by one."

The recoilless rifles were deployed quickly, their operators braving the withering fire to set up their weapons.

Malik himself helped steady one of the guns as it fired, the shell striking a machine gun nest with a deafening explosion.

The sandbags were blown apart, and the gun fell silent.

"Move up!" Malik shouted, leading his men forward as the remaining nests were destroyed.

The French defenders, realizing they were outgunned, began to retreat, leaving their positions in disarray.

In the command post, Prakash monitored the situation closely.

Reports poured in from all fronts, each one confirming the success of the assault.

The French lines were collapsing, their troops falling back in disorganized groups.

"This is it," Prakash said, turning to Hassan. "We press the advantage now. Once we break through, the British and Israelis will be forced to shift their focus, and we'll take the fight to them."

Hassan nodded, a rare smile crossing his face. "Your men have given us hope, General. Let's finish this."

As the French forces retreated, the Indian and Egyptian troops advanced relentlessly.

Sergeant Bahadur and his Gurkhas, having secured the French artillery positions, now turned their attention to the fleeing infantry.

Bahadur signaled his men to move swiftly, their rifles picking off stragglers as they pursued the retreating enemy.

"They're breaking," Bahadur muttered to himself. "Let's make sure they don't recover."

On the eastern flank, Malik's men encountered a pocket of resistance a group of

French soldiers who had regrouped around a damaged tank.

Despite their desperate situation, the French fought fiercely, their gunfire holding back the Indian advance.

"Flank them!" Malik shouted, motioning for his men to split into two groups.

He led one group himself, crawling through the sand to get a better angle on the enemy position.

When they were close enough, Malik lobbed a grenade toward the tank, the explosion silencing the resistance.

"Clear!" he called out, waving his men forward.

The coordinated assault soon broke the French completely.

Their surviving troops fled toward the Israeli and British lines, their retreat covered by artillery fire.

The Indian and Egyptian forces consolidated their gains, setting up defensive positions to prepare for the inevitable counterattack.

By late afternoon, the battlefield had fallen silent.

The French forces had been pushed back, their lines shattered.

The Indians and Egyptians stood victorious, their banners flying high over the captured positions.

Prakash surveyed the battlefield from a ridge, his binoculars taking in the scene. "We've driven a wedge between them," he said to Hassan, who stood beside him. "The British and Israelis will have to pull back to reinforce their lines. This is our chance to take the initiative."

Hassan nodded. "Your men fought like lions today. Egypt owes India a great debt."

Prakash shook his head. "I really wish to kick them out personally of this land but it seems soon we will receive order to ceasefire"