The International Report
July 13th, 2022
UN Peacekeepers Ambushed, Slaughtered by Militia Near Zahmet, Turkmenistan
TURKMENABAT, TURKMENISTAN - Several reports have surfaced in the vicinity of Zahmet, northeast of Mary, of acts of hostility toward UN peacekeeping forces. Details remain limited as of 8 PM TMT (Turkmenistan Time), the 12th of July, and the UN Secretary-General has not yet issued a statement confirming any violence associated with the arrival of the UNOTURM operation in Central Asia. Among the ranks of those deployed in support of the aid effort are soldiers from several European states, as well as other neighboring Central Asian nations.
Turkmenians claiming to be eye witnesses to an attack are confirmed by TIR correspondents to be arriving minute-by-minute at the only remaining Uzbek border crossing that is open as of the publication of this article. Refugees and political asylum-seekers have surged from Turkmenistan in recent days, spurred by a series of violent upheavals and social fallout from the 'Turkmen Youth Revolution'.
Photo courtesy of SGT Jacques LeFontaine, French Land Army
As many as ten thousand civilians are thought to have fled through the Uzbekistan corridor alone in just the last week, and caravans of foot traffic have been seen hindering the arrival of UN aid convoys on already poorly-maintained inroads.
Article Update: 12 July 2022, 20:15 PM GMT
Moments ago, the office of the UN Secretary-General released a confirmation of an attack on the UN Peacekeeper column at approximately 12 PM TMT, as well as a statement that there was "some damage" to their operations. No additional details were provided, and a press conference is scheduled for 11:30 PM GMT.
Earlier today, a Twitter account calling itself "Bu Hakykat" published a single video that appears to be related to the incident described in the above-mentioned statement. No comment was associated with the posting, but the footage depicts a group of armed and organized militants taking part in urban combat in a part of the town of Zahmet.
The video below is not suitable for all audiences. TIR has redacted portions of it pending further confirmation of its contents.
While it is unclear what the allegiance or goal of the attacking militia is, the video shows combatants maneuvering past the remains of what are assumed to be deceased UN personnel. Distinctive blue coloring can be seen on the helmets of several of the fallen. No organization has officially taken responsibility for the actions displayed, but a flag associated with the recently-announced New World Turkmenia Youth Party is visible at the top-right side of the video, which would suggest that these fighters are either the junta force of the party, known as the New World Revolutionary Corps or NWRC; or possibly a mix of militant fighters with ties to the new party.
Photos courtesy of Bu Hakykat, TwitterVarious armed groups have surfaced in the days following the collapse of the previous Turkmen regime that was formerly helmed by members of the Murtazayev family. A suspected cellular network and internet blackout has been in effect for several weeks, which has affected government-run domains as well as private ones, though television broadcasts have since resumed. It remains unknown who leaked the footage of the ambush, and how, as Twitter has preemptively disabled usage of their app in the region.
This article will be further updated once the Secretary General's presser has concluded.
Article Update: 13 July 2022, 09:30 AM GMT
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - UN Secretary-General António Guterres has confirmed the ambush on UN forces. At least thirty-six personnel conducting peacekeeping operations in the proximity of Zahmet, Turkmenistan are currently known to have been killed, while "several others" were referred to as unaccounted for. Multiple vehicles including those loaded down with supplies were also confirmed to be lost entirely, though Guterres did not address what those supplies were or whether they had been targeted specifically. This report comes on the heels of rumors of additional raids and increasing reports of engagements with armed militants across Turkmenistan.
Distribution of aid was stated to remain a continued goal and one that is ongoing even in spite of setbacks. The UN and its deployed mission personnel will continue to commit all available resources to relieve the people of Turkmenistan, the Secretary-General said.
When pressed for answers by TIR correspondents, Guterres stated that he could not speak to further details of combat actions and did not confirm whether a search and rescue operation to locate survivors was ongoing as of that evening, nor did he specify to identify the names or nationalities of those killed or unaccounted for. Whether additional troop presence would be requested was said to be "on the table."
TIR continues to receive hourly updates from correspondents stationed near the Uzbek border.
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