News: Irish Routed by British Air Elements

6th March 1989: British royalist and republican forces in Northern Ireland launched a massive co-ordinated counter-attack across the province against the invading Irish Republic forces.

Under relentless air attack by Royalist Army Air Lynx helicopters and Republican Air Force Tornadoes flying out of bases in Scotland, Irish AFV's were targeted in an around the clock bombardment before Royal Irish and Ulster Defence Force troops launched a ground assault on the night of the 5th.

Shell shocked Irish Defence Force troops streamed back across the border as territory in both the east and south of Ulster was recovered by British forces.

News: Irish Engaged at Armagh

4th March 1989: Sky News reported that the 1st Royal Irish Rangers had engaged Irish Republic forces advancing on the strategically important town of Armagh alongside elements of the Ulster Defence Regiment.

The Irish 3rd Infantry Battalion had advanced on Armagh in a effort to ensure the flank of the 1st Infantry, advancing on Lisburn, expecting minimal resistance from UDR forces in the area but was surprised by the presence of the 1st Royal Irish who they believed to still be preparing defences around Belfast. Fierce fighting took place as the 3rd attempted to storm the Royalist positions, the Milan ATGM causing numerous casualties amongst the advancing Irish APC's.

News: Welsh Nationalists Declare Independence

1st March 1989: Wales Today reported that paramilitary troops of Byddin Rhyddid Cymru (The Free Wales Army), a paramilitary Welsh nationalist organisation, seized Broadcasting House in Cardiff and declared independence from England. Julian Cayo-Evans, the FWA leader who had been imprisoned in for conspiracy to cause explosions in 1969, broadcast an appeal on BBC Cymru Wales to the country appealing for national unity and independence to "protect the Welsh nation and its peoples from the horrors that had engulfed England".

Unfortunately for Cayo-Evans whilst the FWA did attract considerable popular support, notably from a number of police forces in the Principality, his plea for unity was not welcomed by all. Cymru Goch (Red Wales) a left wing nationalist organisation with socialist and trade union support took to arms to resist the imposition of FWA rule on Wales.

Additionally other nationalist paramilitary organisations such as Meibion Glyndŵr (Sons of Glyndŵr), who had been waging a firebombing campaign since 1979 and Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru (The Movement for the Defence of Wales), an older nationalist group led by John Jenkins; opposed Cayo-Evans on a number of points of principle and made their own power plays often resulting in all out warfare between the nationalist groups.

The situation in Wales further worsened as militias such as the The Welsh Army for the Workers Republic were formed (sometimes with covert English Republican or Royalist support), often on a regional or language basis, leading to the breakdown of the rule of law as alliances were formed (and often quickly broken) as the various paramilitaries attempted to control valuable resources such as the South Wales coalmines.

News: Irish Army Captures Newry

22nd February 1989: RTÉ News reported that Irish Defence Forces had captured Newry as they "expanded the axis of advance as part of their peace keeping operations."

The 1st and 3rd Infantry Battalions advanced into County Amagh overnight meeting little resistance from UDR forces along the border capturing the city on the 22nd. Following this success the Irish Defence Forces continued their advance north towards Craigavon and Lisburn.

News: AVG Armour Goes in Action

15th February 1989: Sky News reported that American Volunteer Group armoured units had engaged Republican and German 'mercenary' units near Mansfield. General Munnery at GHQ stated that "superior American tanks had smashed the communists attempts to invade the heartland of the Royalist north of England".

In reality, whilst AVG M1's had engaged Republican forces, they were of limited numbers and had only achieved local success. However the escalation of the Civil War to now include American land forces was greeted with concern by both the Republican government in London and by Moscow.

News: Republicans Advance Up East Coast

12th February 1989: the Republican advance against the dispirited Royalist continued unabated with German armour supported by French and Republican Army units capturing Grantham, Boston and threatening Newark.

Despite the introduction of American Volunteer Group air force support, Royalist morale had plummeted and the army was in disarray. Some units had fallen back on positions such as in King's Lynn and Stamford which the Royalist press claimed were "key defensive positions being held on a fluid battlefield" but in reality the Republicans had bypassed them in their blitzkrieg inspired attack north towards key Royalist locations such as Sheffield and Grimsby.