User:Jebotiacimmater/sandbox

= 2023 insurgency in the Antilles =

The 2023 insurgency in the Antilles refers to a complex and multifaceted conflict that erupted in the Dutch Antilles, a group of Caribbean islands, during the year 2023. This insurgency was primarily characterized by the activities of the Frisian Liberation Front (FLF), an organization seeking autonomy for the province of Friesland in mainland Netherlands. The conflict escalated significantly and attracted international attention due to its unique dynamics, which involved not only regional separatism but also the involvement of private military companies (PMCs), such as PMC "Obelyn" and PMC "Waser," and extremist groups like the Islamic State (IS).

Background
The Dutch Antilles, a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, had been relatively stable before the outbreak of the insurgency. However, underlying tensions related to regional autonomy and governance had persisted for years. The FLF, a group advocating for Friesland's independence, emerged as a central actor, claiming that the Dutch government was suppressing their cultural and political rights. These grievances formed the backdrop for the insurgency. Saba, often referred to as "The Unspoiled Queen," is the smallest special municipality of the Netherlands. Both Saba and Sint Eustatius, also known as Statia, have a public entity status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Friesland, located in mainland Netherlands, is one of the country's twelve provinces. It is known for its distinct culture, language, and history, often rooted in a desire for regional autonomy. Friesland's relationship with the Dutch government has been marked by a long history of striving for greater self-governance and recognition of its unique identity. The Frisian Liberation Front (FLF), which played a pivotal role in the insurgency, was born out of these regional aspirations for autonomy. The political landscape in Friesland is characterized by its provincial government, with a unique position in Dutch politics. The province has its own executive and legislative bodies, which manage various aspects of local governance. Friesland's distinctive regional identity and its complex relationship with the central Dutch government serve as a backdrop to the broader context of the insurgency in the Antilles. The FLF's desire for autonomy in Friesland is closely tied to the historical struggle for self-determination within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Outbreak of conflict
The insurgency in the Antilles took a more violent turn as the conflict developed. Reports emerged of KMar officers being stabbed in Fort Bay, attributed to individuals in camouflage clothing. Chaos engulfed The Bottom as local police attempted to arrest FLF fighters, only to be confronted by armed civilians supporting the insurgents. Gunshots reverberated through the streets, and emergency services struggled to cope with the influx of injured individuals. The visit of the PMC "Obelyn" commander to Sint Eustatius revealed a coordinated effort to create chaos in Saba. The FLF commander confirmed that they aimed to divert Dutch authorities' attention to Saba by inciting violence, leaving other areas vulnerable to their activities. This revelation underlined the complexities of the conflict, with international actors collaborating with local insurgent groups to achieve their objectives.

The Dutch government mobilized various military and law enforcement units to address the deteriorating security situation, including the Royal Marechaussee (KMar), the Dutch Army (CLAS), the Royal Netherlands Air Force (CLSK), and the Royal Netherlands Navy (CZSK). The presence of these units aimed to restore stability, protect the population, and bring the crisis under control. As the violence continued to escalate, the international community closely monitored the situation, recognizing the need for coordinated efforts to de-escalate the crisis and work towards a peaceful resolution. The events in the Dutch Antilles underscored the intricate geopolitical landscape and security challenges faced by the region and its people. In response to the rapidly escalating violence and instability, the Saba Public Entity made the decision to declare a state of emergency on the island of Saba. This declaration marked a critical turning point in the ongoing insurgency and underscored the severity of the crisis.

The Dutch government declared both the FLF and PMC "Obelyn" as terrorist organizations in response to the escalating violence. In a concerning development, other insurgent groups joined the conflict, further complicating the situation. The Islamic State (IS) established a "wilayah" in the Antilles, named "Wilayah al-Antil," raising security concerns. Additionally, PMC "Waser" expanded its recruitment efforts in the Antilles and Serbia, indicating the global reach of private military companies. The Dutch government declared both the FLF and PMC "Obelyn" as terrorist organizations in response to the escalating violence. In a concerning development, other insurgent groups joined the conflict, further complicating the situation. The Islamic State (IS) established a "wilayah" in the Antilles, named "Wilayah al-Antil," raising security concerns. Additionally, PMC "Waser" expanded its recruitment efforts in the Antilles and Serbia.

During the conflict, many mercenaries started operating on the side of the Frisian Liberation Front and supplied them with weaponry and transport ships. One of those mercenaries, codenamed "Aether", engaged in various fights alongside the FLF against law enforcement and marines. It was also reported that espionage and war crimes were being committed by both sides, with the Royal Marechaussee sending in spies into the FLF to gain information regarding pending operations and the FLF having spies inside the law enforcement system and potentially collaborating with several government officials; along with it, the FLF attacked civilians indiscriminately and law enforcement detained civilians at random and sometimes shot at civilians.

1st week (20th of October - 27th of October)
The Frisian Liberation Front started its first operations on the 20th of October, launching small stabbing attacks and attacking law enforcement. The attacks escalated into taking hostages, executions and conducting an organized attack on Fort Bay where 21 people were confirmed dead. At this time, PMC "Waser" would start recruitment in the Antilles and Serbia as they've voiced their support for the Serbian Orthodox Church. On the 21st, The Islamic State - Wilayah al-Antil media office released a propaganda video named "Come, come - keepers of the greatness" showcasing their first operations and fights in Saba where they called out "traitors" and the "kuffar". They blew up a Korps Mariniers helicopter and set several government buildings on fire, however, the most significant part of their first operation was raising the Islamic State flag on the island - it stayed there for 10 minutes until it was taken down. On the 22nd of October, the Dutch Government declared the Frisian Liberation Front a terrorist organization and ordered the Army to conduct operations in Friesland and to conduct airstrikes on insurgent positions in Saba and Sint Eustatius. This day was the most significant as over 100 Dutch or foreign civilians were kidnapped and taken as hostages or executed by militants. On the same day, the Frisian Liberation Front with assistance from PMC "Obelyn" took over the town of Windwardside and setting up blockades, holding the town hostage. The Korps Mariniers managed to take it back after a long fight. Fights continued all across Saba on the 23rd of October and now entered Sint Eustatius as militants engaged with law enforcement on the island as well. PMC "Waser" declared the creation of the legionary unit "Constantino Magno". Riots, funded by the FLF, would occur all across Saba to protest the Dutch control over the island. The 24th of October marked the second day of riots on Saba, nothing much progressed from then except the escalation of riots as militants attacked police and occupied the streets of The Bottom for several minutes until they were detained or killed.

On the 25th of October, The Islamic State - Wilayah al-Antil media office released another video where they showcased riots from the 23rd and 24th of October. In the same day, the Frisian Liberation Front launched a massive attack on Zion's Hill, capturing it for a small amount of time until they were overwhelmed by law enforcement. The FLF also executed a hostage in the Saba Public Entity building and engaged in firefight with the guards. PMC "Waser" set off explosives at the Saba Police Station in retaliation for the loss of Zion's Hill and blew up a Coast Guard helicopter stationed in Windwardside. Several suicide bombings happened on the same day at various locations across Saba. On the 26th of October, various suicide bombings happened targeting law enforcement. PMC "Obelyn" troops kidnapped a KMar officer and executed him in broad daylight, sending a message to the Dutch Government. Dutch MARSOF deployed in Saba following yesterday's attack. On the same day, the Frisian Liberation Front launched another attack on Zion's Hill, setting various checkpoints until they were overwhelmed by law enforcement - shortly after, militants captured the Saba Airport with help from PMC "Waser" troops. The High Command of PMC "Waser" declared "total resistance" against the "Dutch oppressors" in Sint Eustatius and Saba for their actions against the "Frisian civilian population". PMC "Obelyn" then declared the start of Operation "Red Moon" which purpose was to "liberate Statia and Saba and to liberate the occupied territories of Fryslân".

On the 26th of October, various suicide bombings happened targeting law enforcement. PMC "Obelyn" troops kidnapped a KMar officer and executed him in broad daylight, sending a message to the Dutch Government. Dutch MARSOF deployed in Saba following yesterday's attack. On the same day, the Frisian Liberation Front launched another attack on Zion's Hill, setting various checkpoints until they were overwhelmed by law enforcement - shortly after, militants captured the Saba Airport with help from PMC "Waser" troops. The High Command of PMC "Waser" declared "total resistance" against the "Dutch oppressors" in Sint Eustatius and Saba for their actions against the "Frisian civilian population". PMC "Obelyn" then declared the start of Operation "Red Moon" which purpose was to "liberate Statia and Saba and to liberate the occupied territories of Fryslân". On the 27th of October, 2 FLF fighters were arrested by KMar and the Royal Navy after a seaborne special operation, illegal cargo worth over 1.6 thousand USD was destroyed by the Navy. During the operation, several officers were heard saying derogatory remarks about Frisians which sparked outrage. The Saba Airport had to be shut down due to various threats made by the Frisian Liberation Front. On the same day, the FLF launched attacks on Zion's Hill and in a coordinated attack took over the Saba Public Entity building.

2nd week (28th of October - ongoing)
On the 28th of October, chaos erupted around 11 AM local time as the Frisian Liberation Front launched a small attack where a FLF fighter was detained. PMC "Obelyn" Central Command made a joint statement directed toward the Dutch government and the Saba Public Entity. They emphasized the progress made during Operation "Red Moon" and expressed their commitment to the liberation of Friesland and the Antilles, warning the Dutch government, cautioning them to be mindful of their actions, as any misstep could lead to dire consequences. A high ranking police official claimed that "Saba was going to hell" and that the situation there was "equivalent to the one in Palestine and Israel". On the same day, the PMC "Obelyn" commander in chief, only known as "Mr. Obelyn", visited Sint Eustatius for diplomatic reasons between the PMC and other insurgent groups. Several video recordings surfaced showing marines paradropping out of a C-130 Hercules hovering over Saba. Islamic State militants ambushed law enforcement in Windwardside as the FLF attacked marines stationed at the Saba Airport and attempted to steal military cargo and ammunition. Several lone wolves attacked FLF militants however failed in succeeding their goals. At 2 PM local time, the FLF launched a massive attack on The Bottom where 10 police officers and 3 civilians were killed in different ambushes. The police then conducted an operation to arrest a high ranking FLF official and in retaliation, the FLF launched another operation, killing 3 more officers and injuring 2 more.

On the 29th, at 8 PM local time(1 AM CET), PMC "Waser" launched a series of attacks at Fort Bay. Petrol bombs were thrown near Zion's Hill to stop the militants, and in retaliation, the SEK "Waldhof" unit killed 5 civilians and 2 police officers and conducted 3 bombing attacks. Later during the day, insurgents detonated a bomb at Fort Bay, causing disarray. It was then speculated that the Frisian Liberation Front was focusing on Sint Eustatius because of a new operation. Various shootouts occurred during the day between FLF fighters and law enforcement where, in total, 17 police officers, 1 pilot and 2 civilians were killed. 2 FLF fighters were detained by law enforcement which outraged the FLF leadership, vowing revenge for the attacks. More shootouts occurred during the day in both Saba and Sint Eustatius which weren't FLF related. Various aircraft was seen on Sint Eustatius, including a Chinook and a F-22 Raptor. At 1 PM local time, a large group of FLF supporters and militants would rally up in Windwardside, prompting up the first Red Alert(Emergency system in the Antilles) in recent times to pop up on phones of everyone in Saba and Sint Eustatius - the warning also expanded to Sint Maarten. During the time, unknown militants(possibly aligned to IS) launched an attack on Fort Bay, disrupting the rally and causing violence all across Saba. An hour after, the FLF launched a series of naval attacks near the Saba airport, destroying 2 cargo ships and killing 4 people. The conflict would continue with PMC "Waser" militants setting a commercial plane on fire and stabbing 3 people at Fort Bay.

On the 30th of October, various shootouts between law enforcement, insurgents and the FLF occurred all across Saba and Sint Eustatius in which approximately 10 FLF fighters were killed. They would set up blockades at Zion's Hill, forcing people to pay fees and sending people back if they rejected it. 5 minutes into the blockades, several militants aligned to the FLF ambushed law enforcement and civilian vehicles, throwing Molotov cocktails and stabbing the civilians to death. Later on, they would attack "spies" and "traitors" to the FLF. In the evening around 9 PM, PMC "Waser" militants would attack law enforcement and would set off a bomb in Windwardside near "King's Cafe".