Second Battle of Wahles

Second Battle of Wahles
Part of South Versutian War
Skyline of Bellaria during the Auroran invasion and siege of the city. A Wahlsh AA Battery can be seen firing at Auroran Aircraft on the left.
Date 26th-30th of April 2014 Location Island of Wahles Result Auroran/Insurgent Victory
Belligerents
United Federation of Wahland	People's Republic of Aurora Wahli Insurgents
Commanders and leaders
James Stoliker Adam Jamesson	Muhammad Bashir Khalid Jaafar Nikolai Madatov Alexander von Chek Yasul Bashir
Strength
15,000 Marines; 10,000 Paratroopers	18,300 Troops Apx. 6,000 Insurgents
Casualties and losses
7,500 K.I.A., 6,000 Wounded, 900 M.I.A.	7,300 K.I.A., 2,800 Wounded, 750 M.I.A. 3,000-4,000 Killed
~At least 1200 civilians killed

The Second Battle of Wahles was an Auroran offensive against the Wahlsh military on the island of Wahles, in the Nevthronian Gulf, in late April 2014. It was led by Auroran forces against the Wahlsh occupying force. The Wahli insurgency, led by Yasul Bashir, fought against Wahland alongside the Auroran Invaders. The Wahlsh military called it "The worst, most violent fighting seen in modern Wahlsh history".

This was the Second major battle on Wahles. In early March, 2014, Wahlsh forces invaded, fighting the First Battle of Wahles in order to capture or kill insurgent elements considered responsible for the deaths of hundreds of civilians, including the current Wahlsh appointed governor, and her administration. The battle was the first major conventional conflict involving Wahland since the founding of the nation.

Background

In Early March 2014, a referendum was held to determine whether the island territory of Wahles should get it's independence from Wahland. The referendum was defeated in a very close vote, but pro-independence supporters accused the defeat, claiming it was unfair and corrupted; which resulted in widespread protests. Several days after the protests started, a series of devastating earthquakes and a tsunami hit Wahles. Yasul Bashir, the leader of a growing anti-Wahlsh militant group, seized the opportunity to launch a Coup aggainst the Governorate of Wahles, in order to establish a new, independent government. He successfully overthrew the government and security forces there, and executed hundreds of civilians who opposed him.

Just days later, 15,000 Wahlsh Marines invaded the island, overtaking several key strategic targets and several major cities within days. In response to the sudden invasion, Generalissimo Menon, the dictator of neighboring Aurora, sent a stern warning to Wahland ordering the complete withdrawal of Wahlsh forces on the island. Several days later an Auroran naval task force moved into the waters between Shi no Shima and Wahles, again ordering the withdrawal of Wahlsh forces.

Timeline

• 8th April 2014: Wahli protests occur outside Wahlsh consulate in Bellaria.
• 10th April 2014: 9.2 Earthquake hits near Shi no Shima, causing widespread devastation in Wahles.
• 17th April 2014: Several Wahli Security force convoys are ambushed by unknown militants, Mariani Fulani is kidnapped from her motorcade. A Wahlsh Expeditionary Fleet is ordered into the area.
• 18th April 2014: Yasul Bashir launches a Coup, executes Mariani Fulani on national t.v., along with most of her administration.
• 20th April 2014: Wahlsh Marines invade Wahles through the coastal city of Azadi.
• 21st April 2014: Generalissimo Menon releases a statement threatening against Wahland's military actions.
• 24th April 2014: Assassination attempt on Menon, terrorist attacks in Maharan occur, Menon accuses Wahland of sanctioning the attacks, Wahland denies the allegations.
• 25th April 2014: Wahlsh Navy retreats away from Wahles, 10,000 Wahlsh paratroopers land in Wahles.
• 26th April 2014: Auroran forces launch a full scale invasion of Wahles.
• 30th April 2014: Auroran forces capture the island, thousands of Wahlsh troops are taken prisoner.

Preparations

In response to Auroran threats, Wahland sent about 10,000 paratroopers to reinforce the Marines on the island. The paratroopers set up anti-aircraft installations on the north coast of Wahles, to defend any possible attack by Aurora. In addition, Wahlsh forces dug in and set up several heavy fortifications along the coast, to counteract any amphibious invasion by Aurora. The Wahlsh navy was forced to retreat to the east because they were far outnumbered by the Auroran navy, which crippled the Wahlsh naval supremacy. It also crippled the Wahlsh air power because the majority of Wahland's air power was carrier based.

The Aurorans moved over 200 warships into the waters between Wahles and Shi no Shima, in preparation for the attack. The Aglrnians had over 18,000 troops ready to invade on order. The Aurorans vastly outgunned the Wahlsh naval and airpower, after the Wahlsh naval withdrawal in the days before the invasion.

The Battle

The invasion began on early in the morning of April 26th, when thousands of Auroran paratroopers began being dropped several miles inland from the northern coast, while simultaneously, amphibious forces assaulted the Wahlsh beachheads.

Aftermath