Modern Warfare takes place in modern time, with the campaign occurring over the course of several days in late 2019 continuing the story into 2020. The story centers around a rising conflict between Russia and the fictional Urzikstan, also involving Western military forces. Three protagonists: British SAS Sergeant Kyle "Gaz" Garrick, former Delta Force operator turned CIA SAC/SOG officer "Alex", and Urzik rebel leader Farah Karim. The three protagonists work together, alongside SAS Captain John Price and CIA Station Chief Kate Laswell. Other allies include U.S. Marine Corps General Lyons, Colonel Norris, and Demon Dogs leader Sergeant Marcus Griggs; Farah's older brother Hadir Karim; "Nikolai", head of a Russian PMC acquainted with Price; and Yegor Novak, a Ukrainian fixer working for Nikolai. The allied forces are opposed by the Al-Qatala, a terrorist organization based in Urzikstan led by Omar "The Wolf" Sulaman and his right-hand man Jamal "The Butcher" Rahar, as well as General Roman Barkov, commander of a rogue Russian faction who treats Farah's rebel forces and the Al-Qatala equally as criminals.
