Spetsnaz Operators conducted Operation Sand Cat starting on December 5th 1995. Their goal was to hunt and kill Nikita Glombavanov, who was reportedly hiding in Afghanistan. They landed in country with a small team, an MI8, and an Interpreter Bassem. Bassem was a college student studying abroad in Moscow. He was promised free college, and a permanent visa for him and his family. Operation SandCat ended in a failure, as all but 3 Spetsnaz Operators, Their pilot, Bassem, and Bassems cousin Yaseem were all killed in action. Below are the AAR post each day, done by Russian Intelligence.
AAR December 5th 1995 Overall result- Radio tower destroyed, Atticus KIA, MI8 Lost Spetsnaz operators destroyed the radio tower that we believe Glombavanov was using to transmit to the Georgians. In this firefight the mi8 was shot down by a stinger, Mantle managed to survive the crash and rejoin with the team. Bassem was able to fix a downed truck by using clothes to form makeshift tires. The team drove the truck to the site believed to house Glombavanov. Once there it was clear it was a trap, as TAG and Maloda entered the main building and saw explosive satchels lining the foundation. A series of explosions cooked off, and an ambush of over 50+ Al Quada fighters encircled the compound. A fierce firefight ensued, and Atticus was killed in action. When the fighting stopped, Bassems cousin, yaseem who owns a local bus company offered to give the operators a ride to their grandmother's house.
AAR December 6th 1995 Spetsnaz operators attempted to act on new info from Bassems cousin Yaseem. After fighting off multiple ambushes and patrols, they made their way to Glombs hideout. An SPG9 from one of Glombs forces fired the first shot, causing the Spetsnaz operators to go on the defensive. In the firefight that followed, the operators advanced on the compound and began clearing it, taking heavy losses. Mortars began raining down on them, and a large enemy force came as reinforcements from the neighboring FOBs. The Spetsnaz operators and their interpreters were overrun and killed, Mantle was paraded through the compound before being executed. Schim, Nerd, and DOA who were on their own mission attempting to contact command have been exfiled from the country. The CIA is currently tracking Glomb and finding his location.
A letter was later found on the body of Bassem, addressed to his grandmother. It is assumed that he wrote it mere hours before his death. The note is translated as follows.
“Dear Tata, Yassem just brought me to your house and you weren't here. I missed you greatly and would love to see you some time. I was not suppose to be in town, but as I was at school back in Russia some officials asked me for some help. They said they would pay for my schooling, so hamdullah we don’t have to pay for anything. I am also do I graduate next year, inshallah we can get you here to see me. The officials though, brought me back to interpret for them. I am sure you heard of the conflict in Georgia. The Russians want to get Glom today if they can. It has been a scary mission so far. I had to learn how to shoot a guy and an RPG. I don’t like it, but everywhere we go there is bad guys there. I feel a little scared to continue, but the guys know what they are doing and I trust them. Our already lost one of our guys, atticus, he was a nice guy but I didn’t know him too well so it hasn’t affected me too bad. We were attacking a radio tower just west of the capital and our helicopter went down. Our managed to pull out our pilot, but we have been on foot and stealing trucks when we can. Yassem heard I was in town and called me when were attacked. Inshallah I get to see you soon. Yassem is coming with me on the next mission, but I promise I will bring him back. uhibuk kathiran, Bassem”