Soviet Invasion of the United Emirates

Emirates War
Part of the Cold War
Emirates troops in the desert
Date 2 April 1960-18 July 1963 Location United Emirates Result United Emirates and allies victorious
Belligerents
Soviet Union South Emirates	United Emirates United Liberation Front other rebels AMTACT
Commanders and leaders
Nikita Khruschchev Ivan Konev	Faisal I of the United Emirates
Strength
80,000-85,000 28,000	45,000-60,000 20,000-25,000
Casualties and losses
16,217 dead 19,900 dead	12,000 dead 10,600 dead

The Emirates War, also known as the Soviet Invasion of the United Emirates, was a major conflict in the United Emirates that occurred officially between 1960 and 1963.

Background

The background to the war begins with independence. King Hamad rapidly gave in to conservatives and served more-or-less as a puppet. Communists and socialists in the country began a a revolt in Salalah. Soon the Soviets were supplying them with arms and building them a capital. In 1959 the United States, Saudi Arabia and other European powers like Europa began to supply the Royalists with weapons and other supplies. The rebels had a few early successes but were on the decline through 1959 and were on the brink of losing. So, in April 1960 the Red Army invaded the Emirates.

War

The Soviet Army quickly advanced up the country, reclaiming the territory lost by the rebels. In October 1960 the Soviets defeated the royalists at Sur and King Hamad fled the country. The King’s brother, Faisal took command and organized a resistance. Movements like the United Liberation Front began armed resistance and guerilla war (like the Afghan Mujahideen’s of the 1980s) and the remnants of the army (about 65,000 men) began engaging the Soviets into combat in increasingly hostile territory (for them). State-sponsored terrorist attacks resulted in the destruction of many Soviet bases, convoys and equipment. A heatwave and drought in the south (1963) devastated the little remaining Soviet morale. By July 1963 most soviet troops had left the country, calling it “a war that could not be won”.

Aftermath

Though the war was over in 1963 the remaining rebels did not give up the fight. They continued until 1965 and some were even being harbored in Yemen, which caused friction and provided the basis for the First Emirates-Yemen War.