In the latest volley of tit-for-tat attacks, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has responded to Iran's recent aggression by wiping out its Pokémon population in coordinated strikes.
The frightening response was aimed at demoralising Iran's youth (over 50% of the population is under the age of 29) who, behind Japan and South Korea, are the world's most avid Pokemon collectors and players.
Multiple burials were carried out the next day as is Islamic tradition, many of them public which drew crowds and heightened emotions.
"My life has no more meaning," cried Mahmoud, a teenager from Tehran, as he and his cousins carried the corpse of a Marsupilami through the streets.
The Iranian government has declared the strikes as an illegal invasion of its cyber space and has vowed to retaliate.
Many gamers in the region have started collecting and buying magical armour and health packs for their avatars in anticipation of escalated violence from both Gaming arms of the countries' miltaries.
The region's geopolitical balancing act was made difficult because it was based on oil but now it has to juggle new critical resources in Pokéballs, Sonic's gold rings and Minecraft bricks.