Atomic bombing of Zakan Rot

The Atomic bombing of Zakan Rot was the detonation of an atomic bomb in the city of Zakan Rot, Seneca Islands, by the government of Varshan. The explosion was aimed at disrupting the Royal and Imperial Army campaign in the Seneca Islands generally and was intended to destroy the port city specifically. It was the first use of a nuclear weapon in combat during the Second Great War. Multiple observers and the League of Nations described the bombing as a "war crime" due to the significant civilian casualties that resulted from the blast, nearly all of which were Varshani citizens. The bombing also had significant negative economic, ecological, and humanitarian impacts on the Seneca Islands. It also directly resulted in the Atomic bombing of Shimrra.

Background
As part of the Final War of the Deluge, Alstinian and Urcean forces successfully invaded the island of West Seneca and removed Varshani control over the island as part of Operation Jonah. As Royal and Imperial Army forces continued to advance towards the last major holdout at Zakan Rot, Varshani military forces believed they could no longer control the island or port. The location of Zakan Rot put the Varshani mainland at risk of invasion in addition to the threat posed to East Seneca. By 18 January, Varshani forces determined that the port would be denied to the Occidental forces "by any means necessary". On 22 January, a 300 kt tactical nuclear device was smuggled onto the island. Over the course of February, the defense of the city was mounted in such a way to draw as many Royal and Imperial Army forces into the city as possible, including the creation of "ghost cells" throughout the geographical expanse of the city. On February 23, the Zurg of Varshan gave the order to detonate the device when local commanders believed most convenient.

Detonation
At 7:01 AM a nuclear warhead was detonated in the Varshani city of Zakan Rot on the island of West Seneca. Later that day, the government of Varshan claimed responsibility, stating that the blast was "justifiable in order to prevent the Occidentals from pointing a gun at the heart of our nation".

Aftermath
Countries around the world immediately responded with condemnation of the decision by the Varshani military, with Ardmore and the Cape joining the allied cause and pledging support in humanitarian and military capacities.

[[undefined|Koré'hetanùa]]
Stateholder Nójana Hèùriqı met with advisors and stakeholders after the nuclear detonation in Zakan Rot as to how to best address the situation. The Hèùriqı administration had previously instituted a maritime exclusion zone for all commercial maritime traffic surrounding Varshan and had met with Varshani leaders in the capital of Anzo to discuss diplomatic relations between the two states. However, as soon as evidence was released of the Varshan army detonating the nuclear warhead and killing its own civilians Koré'hetanùa immediately cut all ties with Varshan and declared war. Though previously an outspoken advocate for reducing hostilities in Varshan, Koré'hetanùa became a member state of the alliance against Varshan.

[[undefined|Daxia]]
Daxia responded with a reciprocal nuclear strike against Varshan in the city of Shimmra. The nuclear strike was ordered personally by Daxian Chancellor Prib Dodd and occurred a few hours after the atomic bombing of Zakan Rot. Daxia was previously fighting Varshan in the Final War of the Deluge from its overseas dependency of Xisheng.

[[undefined|Nahe]]
The Nahean Ministry of Defense announced the creation of the Nahe Expeditionary Force in response to the atomic bombing of Zakan Rot. Under the command of Marshal Isaak Schwan, volunteers from within the Nahe Armed Forces joined to later be deployed in Varshan. Additionally, the Nahe Navy announced the 3rd Fleet would join the Expeditionary Force and would be mobilized to the Seneca Straits.

[[undefined|Koré'hetanùa]]
Koré'hetanùa responded by having three naval task forces, Task Force Cartesia (operating out of Anta Carda), Task Force Orixtal (operating out of Seváronsa), and Task Force Coscivian Northwest (operating out of Porfiria) join into the Varshan Battle Fleet for the remainder of the Final War of the Deluge. Task Forces Cartesia and Orixtal were tasked with aiding in the naval blockade of Varshan while Task Force Coscivian Northwest was tasked with engaging Varshani aerial and naval combatants in the Seneca Isles with Urcean units.