The Interlaken Treaty Organisation said it was expecting its mission in northern Lierland to be ‘completed’ by the end of the month, after its forces were moving back towards the capital after a two week delay.
The alliance has continued air strikes on Torrence following the detonation of a roadside bomb which killed two of its troops 14 days ago. ITO chief Jensen Hendentenberg said however that he expected the mission to continue as planned, but was ‘devastated’ by the loss of five soldiers in total since the alliance started its ground invasion of the occupied Lier in March. The commander, who will stand down as ITO leader following the end of the mission commented on Friday that the alliance would “not be deterred” from ensuring success. “Nothing will stop us focusing on what matters now. Finalising this mission, freeing the people of Torrence and enabling us to build a strong united Lierland.”
Having originally planned for the assault to be finalised by the end of April, several spontaneous attacks have left the alliance reeling – in particular Free States forces, who account for over 70% of the soldiers deployed in the territory since it took over from Belmonté as the leading military power in the conflict at the end of last year. In the last few weeks, alliance members have debated several changes to strategy and overall increased the number of troops for the final stages of what has become known as ‘Operation Doomsday’.
Interlaken forces are expected to continue to serve in Lierland for at least the next two years under the terms of the coalition deal put together to support the mission. It will be the last operational duties overseen under Commander Hendentenberg, with Pieter-Jan Vandewalle remaining the favourite to take over as ITO chief at the end of the year. He would become the first non-military leader of the alliance.
