These cities were safe from military incursion because they were in the southeast, part of the region which would later secede.

In the absence of all this there would, of course, be no security barrier, no military incursions, no trade restrictions and no sanctions.

Parliament backed by 507 votes to 19 a motion authorising one or more military incursions within the next year.

Looking at history, the area appears to be extremely resistant against successive military incursions from foreign powers aiming to remodel the country.