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To the Nations of Europe:
On the night of June 20, 1953, the Royal Army of the Grand Duchy of Potenza launched Operation Retrieval. This mission, to be undertaken in Cantigian territory, consisted in cooperation between the Royal Navy, specifically the aircraft carrier Francis II, and a detachment of our Folgore (airborne) division from the Royal Army. The names of the men involved are being withheld from the general media to protect their identity. However, the reasons behind this mission and the details of it will now be presented to the general public, in an effort to be transparent and show that our cause was justified.
Currently, Potenzan soldiers are stationed in northern Solaren. These are sons, brothers, nephews, uncles and fathers to many people back in the Grand Duchy. The Royal Army had, for a long time, been struggling with an insurgent movement which had targeted Potenzan servicemen and civilians alike. Their victims were soldiers resting in a cafe and missionary families - including unarmed women and children - driving to their next location. The largest body of the rebellion was crushed thanks to the planning of Potenzan officers and the bravery of Potenzan personnel. but the seeds of rebellion still linger in some parts of norther Solaren and to the south, in the Carentanian and Eiffellandian zones. The last thing the Grand Duchy desires to see is the rise of further rebellion movements to such power that they could, at will, once again strike and kill more Potenzan sons in arms, or more Solaris civilians who desire nothing more than peace and prosperity for their nation and people.
At the beginning of June, disturbing voices began to come from Cantignia, among the Solaris refugees there. Bishop Alviero Muzzoni, leader of the Holy Church of Reclamation, and who was discovered to have committed war crimes during the initial invasion of Solaren, made threats against the foreign armies in Solaren, saying "eternal hellfire which awaits molesting defilers of our Holy Land." He attempted to gain followers by saying "I feel the presence of our Great Pope. He is gathering the full wrath of God himself to be smote against the wretched defilers!" At this point, Bishop Muzzoni became a matter of danger, not only for the Potenzan troops deployed in Solaren, but for the Solaris people themselves. It was clear that he was attempting to spur rebellious forces throughout the nation, and spur the Solaris people into blind violence that would again ignite the nation aflame. At this point, the Grand Duchy deemed Bishop Muzzoni a danger.
Chaos erupted in Cantignia around the same time that the Grand Duchy began to open up plans to obtain possession of Muzzoni and bring him to justice. We could not trust the Cantigian central authority because of the internal conflict and the worry by many that there might be Solaris sympathizers among the various ranks. There was also a worry that any preplanned, cooperative operation might alert Muzzoni and give him a chance to escape, where his propaganda against the reconstruction efforts would continue. It was therefore decided that this operation had to be committed unilaterally and quickly.
Various plans were looked into regarding this. Some suggested a strike by the Royal Navy's air squadrons, but this was scrapped as it might involve unwanted civilian casualties. Some suggested hiring a team to go in on ground and find Muzzoni, assassinating him, but it was decided early on that it was not desirous to turn him into a martyr. We wanted to capture him and bring him to justice. We wanted this justice to happen within Solaren, done by Solaris courts, and manned by Solaren people. We would arrest him to bring him to justice, but we would let his kin decide his fate.
And so Operation Retrieval was planned. The information regarding Muzzoni's location and the terrain around this location was found, through legal means, through our embassy. The operation was planned around the time of the evacuation of Potenzan refugees to mask the transport of our carrier, and to permit a chance for the Potenzan navy to get close enough to the location. The plan was simple: a small detachment of Folgore would be lifted off from a small plane on the Francis II, brought outside Muzzoni's location, and dropped in a low opening operation. After landing, they would regroup, head towards Muzzoni's building, then capture the bishop and take him to a designated field nearby, where a small transport plane would land, pick them up, and take them back to the Francis II.
Many distortions have been made about what happened after the Folgore landed and stormed Muzzoni's location. It is untrue that Muzzoni's family were gunned down. Rather, the Folgore barged in and shouted in English: "Police! Don't move!" According to the report by the Folgore team, one member of Muzzoni's family picked up a knife, and was promptly shot. Several more men - most likely members of his church or other family members - attempted to attack them when they moved into the next few rooms, looking for Muzzoni, and were likewise shot. Muzzoni was found upstairs, hiding behind a curtain, where he was handcuffed, bagged, and carried out by the Folgore. There is no evidence that women or children were killed in the attack. The Folgore had been given strict orders that they were not to open fire first, but were permitted to shoot if they came under attack or felt their life threatened. They followed these orders.
At this moment, Muzzoni is being held in an undisclosed location, under watch, and will be transported to Solaren where he will be held by Potenzan authorities but will be made to answer for her crimes. These trials will be public and transparent. While the Grand Duchy understands the shock that has come from various circles, it must be understood this was an isolated incident in which drastic measures had to be taken. Nothing should be taken from this except the fact that the Grand Duchy is willing to defend her personnel against all foes, and will bring to justice war criminals who have brought shame to her Tiburan brothers.
We will readily answer any other concerns or questions that may be had by the international community, and hope that relations will continue as normal between the Grand Duchy and her allies.
Gian Lombardo
Foreign Minister