Land mine causes conflict scare in Lingor
The existing ceasefire is briefly shaken amid a border clash north of Prospero
For the first time in over nine months, Lingor Government Forces and Council Forces have exchanged fire. The skirmish occurred north of Prospero after an explosion was heard by sides. Assuming it was targeted at them, reportedly the patrols of both sides dove into cover and exchanged purposefully non-lethal and suppressing fire; nonetheless, Sergeant Juan Alvarez († 39), a member of the Council Armed Forces was struck in the neck by a bullet and bled out on the scene.
The area is considered a front line region by both forces, and as such regular patrols occur. While those patrols regularly meet, exchanges of fire are rare and only occur after express provocation; the last such incident occurred at the end of last year, when a LAF member allegedly mocked the disabled mother of a CAF soldier.
Reportedly the cause of the explosion was a faulty land mine that was triggered by a passing monkey. The mine was close enough to the patrol path of both sides to inflict minor injures to at least three men and mislead them into thinking that the other side was responsible.
President Ventura has commented on the skirmish and expressed condolences over the attack. According to an insider source, the Council will attempt to reach a sit-down with an LAF officer to discuss compensation for Alvarez’ surviving family.