"Enemy planes, nine o'clock."

As Sergeant Deka shouted, the soldiers began to operate the anti-aircraft gun again and aimed it at an enemy plane that was trying to sneak in and cause trouble.

"Bang, bang, bang......"

The two chains of fire quickly approached the reckless plane, only to see a chain of fire pass through the plane, causing a puff of smoke to come out of one of its wings, which frightened the plane to make various maneuvers.

Naturally, this caused the squad leader, Sergeant Deka, to shout with his shooting baton held high. "Keep attacking, don't let this plane run away."

However, the next result disappointed him a bit, and the continuous fire did not hit the plane but let it slip. Such a result naturally does not satisfy them, but this is also the norm. Their 20-mm anti-aircraft guns are easy to injure, and it depends on luck to shoot them down.

"Squeak."

The sudden sound of gunfire hanging in the air attracted the attention of everyone in the gun position. The tense air combat had already exhausted the ammunition on the position, and at this time, Sergeant Deka, who commanded the shooting, couldn't help but be a little anxious.

"Salsai, hurry up and get the ammunition here."

After urging Salsai, who was sweating profusely, he immediately pointed to the others on the gun emplacement. "Don't watch, hurry up and move some ammunition, it's up to him to move when."

And the gunners, loaders and others on this shutdown gun position immediately went to help carry the ammunition. For this 20-mm anti-aircraft cannon operated by them, the consumption of ammunition was very large.

With the help of a few people, the 20-mm anti-aircraft cannon began to roar again.

However, the air raids continued, and a lot of anti-aircraft fire was lost in the air raids. At present, Beirut is already facing a shortage of anti-aircraft firepower, which has also caused huge losses to its military facilities, as well as the construction of fortifications and weapons and equipment.

A squad like Salsai's can still ensure full loading, which is relatively rare in the air defense forces.

These days of air raids have not only caused a lot of losses to the French army, but also caused the people of Beirut to flee with their children and daughters. The battle is about to be fought at the doorstep, and this is willing to continue to stay here.

It's just that the people can flee, and the army naturally can't leave, but is increasing.

Lieutenant General Mendelek, who is the defense chief of Beirut, has been busy these days.

"What did General Sinlai of Damascus say?"

In the underground headquarters, he looked at the map of the city defense and asked the chief of staff beside him. In front of him, there were staff officers, who were updating the map according to the latest situation, and the latest state of the defenders was already indicated with small flags of various colors.

"General Sinlai sent a telegram that at the moment he has not been able to spare only one anti-aircraft battalion to support us, and he can only rely on small-caliber anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns."

Hearing the words of the chief of staff, Mendelek was somewhat dissatisfied. "Didn't you inform him of our situation, this little bit of strength is not enough for a day's attrition."

"It has already been said, but General Sinlai replied that the air defense forces of Damascus have been exhausted, and he can no longer be withdrawn."

At present, France's air defense weapons and troops in the Middle East have basically been transferred to Beirut and Latakia, and only Damascus has some because of its importance. And now the air defense forces of Damascus have been exhausted, and the air defense forces of the French army in the Middle East have been exhausted.

"Ask for help from Paris and inform them of our current situation."

Mendelek stopped at this point. "Paris alone will not do, the North African army has just suffered a major defeat, and the center of gravity of Paris's support will also be on the Tunisian side. Now we have to think of another way, send a telegram to Cairo and ask for their support, whether it is personnel, weapons, supplies or whatever, we want everything. ”

Now Mendelek wants everything, but he also knows that opening his mouth to Paris is not necessarily useful. Because the current defeat in North Africa has made France give priority to the Tunisian front line, even if it wants reinforcements. Moreover, the sea control in the Eastern Mediterranean has been lost, and the material personnel need to go around Africa to transport it, which is too far.

In addition, if he wanted reinforcements, it would be a month or two later, and he could not afford to wait, so he could only ask the British Middle East Command in Cairo for help.

However, although he lowered his face, the chief of staff hesitated. "Can Admiral Wavell give us that? After all, we belong to different countries, and it will be very difficult to go directly to Cairo to ask for help in this way, just through Paris. ”

The words of the chief of staff made Mendelek think twice and then said. "Then send a telegram to Ganmalin and tell them that we need reinforcements, and if we can't be given reinforcements from home, then allow us to ask for help from friendly forces."

Mendelek, who fully listened to the advice of the chief of staff, immediately added one.

"Okay, I'll go get someone to send the news."

With the departure of the chief of staff, Mendelek looked at the terrible image of being attacked by the air raid outside, and in his heart, he already had a rough idea of the landing site in Romania. If nothing else, then the Romanians will definitely land around Beirut, and now he has enough troops to deal with air raids, and it will be difficult to land if he does.

In response to Mendelek's request, Paris replied quickly, and in the afternoon there was a reply that he was allowed to ask for help from the British, and at the same time Paris also raised the question of joint command between the two countries to London.

The joint command of the two countries, which Churchill had not been able to obtain for a long time, was also surrendered by Paris without hesitation when the situation became critical.

It's just that this decision made Churchill angry enough, but considering the special relationship between Britain and France, he could only pinch his nose and admit it.

In a telegram sent to the commander of the Middle East Army, General Wavell, London requested that it provide support to Beirut as appropriate, subject to guarantees to Egypt.

In the face of London's order, Admiral Wavell decided after careful consideration that the 10th Army, which was composed of troops stationed in Iraq and Persia, would send part of its forces to support the French Middle East. Its troops were mainly composed of the 27th and 34th Divisions formed in India, the 6th Sikh Brigade, and the 3rd Highland Artillery Regiment.

Although Wavell gave reinforcements, these troops were in addition to the 27th Division, which is currently stationed in the Sinai Peninsula and can be quickly supported. The 6th Sikh Brigade is still in Iraq, and the 34th Division and the 3rd Highland Artillery Regiment are still on ships in the Red Sea.

Because of the containment of the Italian army in East Africa, the British army is currently relatively scattered.

By the way, the Anglo-French Somali forces (Djibouti and Somaliland) are being attacked by the Italian forces in East Africa. Under the attack of 30,000 Italian troops, 4,000 British and French defenders abandoned their colonies in Somalia and retreated.

Because Wavell was unwilling to consume too much of his own troops and supplies, and when the British Navy had the control of the Red Sea and could ensure the transportation routes, he was unwilling to use too many troops and materials for this dead place. That's why 4,000 defenders were withdrawn, which was also one of the few victories won by the Italian army in East Africa.

It's just that time is running out for them, and in the port of Limassol on the island of Cyprus, a large number of troops are embarking, and they are the Romanian 9th Army, which is about to launch a landing operation. The corps consisted of the 8th, 27th, and 39th Infantry Divisions and the 2nd Marine Division (which was supplemented by the 1st Marine Division, which had lost some of its forces), and was commanded by Lieutenant General Fergus.

Outside the harbor, a large number of warships protecting them were already prepared outside the harbor, and several of them were particularly conspicuous battleships.

"Lieutenant General Felgus, it's up to you to land first this time."

Hoffman, as the commander of the army group, personally saw him off with the chief of staff.

"Rest assured, the 9th Army will definitely complete the mission."

Lieutenant General Fergus, who had fought in the First World War, replied.

Naturally, the Romanian accumulation of military ships could not be concealed from the British and French intelligence services. The island has a population of more than 300,000 people, and it is naturally impossible for the hidden spies to be cleared up by the Romanian army that has not been occupied for a long time.

In the evening of the same day, Admiral Wavell, who was far away in Cairo, received the news. "Immediately order all coastlines to be vigilant, mobile reinforcements, and immediately prepare for an attack."

Although Britain and France paid enough attention, a sudden riot caught them off guard.