Liberation of Sipula
| Liberation of Sipula | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Sanaman Federation of People's Republics |  Democratic Republic of Sanama
|
||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 75,000 | 22,000 | ||||||
The Liberation of Sipula was a military operation launched by Sanama during the end of 1704 to liberate Sipula, also known as Sanaman Cibola, from the rule of the old regime under Keysa Nur Pinito Caprici. Prior to the operation, foreign personnel were alerted and advised to evacuate. Sanama also prepositioned aircraft and personnel in Zijincheng, a Kildarian city in Cibola.
Between 13 and 24.XIV.1704 AN, the 3rd Cossack Brigade of the Honourable Company, previously garrisoned in Sanaman Cibola, embarked aboard logistic support ships and chartered vessels of the Benacian Union and departed upon a contracted razzia against the Kingdom of Naudia'Diva.
Background
During the final months of the Sanaman Civil War, when it was apparent that the rebels would emerge victorious, Chancellor Keysa Nur Pinito Caprici evacuated her family and a small government retinue to Sanaman Cibola, a long neglected territory on the northern coast of Cibola. Due to the absence of the Sanamati Democratic Party and the wider Peoples' Front in Sanaman Cibola, the revolution never spread there from Benacian Sanama. The Sanaman Foreign Legion also held the territory in a firm grip, facilitating Nur Pinito Caprici's relocation. Almost as soon as her new office had been set up in Niyi Axi, Caprici started exercising civilian political command over the territory, with Alain Pimpolet as Supreme Commander of the military forces, mainly the Foreign Legion. As early as 1701 however, an underground influence effort had formed in the territory, sponsored by the Sanamati Democratic Party, establishing the People's Republic of Sipula. Most people in the territory hailed from the Green and, being non-citizens, were effectively disenfranchised and cut off from many of the opportunities afforded to citizens. The Caprici government also pursued a vigorous "Sanaman-first" policy, banning all languages except for Sanaman in local schools. These factors combined with widespread unemployment caused an explosive growth in support for the People's Republic, setting the stage for liberation in 1704.
Developments
During the second half of 1704, the People's Defence Force moved 75,000 troops, with support and transport, to the ruins of Medilana west of Sanaman Cibola. The People's Air Force prepositioned a division of F-9 Ashavan IIs and a flight of F-17 Axaranas to the Kildarian city Zijincheng. On 22.XIV.1704 the PAF started running sorties over Sanaman Cibola with Axaranas, targeting military installations belonging to the Foreign Legion, as well as their positions in the west. The division of Ashavan IIs were simultaneously running combat air patrol, maintaining air superiority over the territory. On 13.XV.1704 the PDF units crossed the border, facing scattered resistance by the Foreign Legion. The invasion caused widespread desertion in the Foreign Legion, with about 10,000 of the most dedicated members remaining to defend Niyi Axi and the Caprici administration. The PAF continued striking against Foreign Legion defensive positions, as well as its headquarters. The heavy assault finally broke the resistance on 23.XV.1704. The Caprici retinue scrambled and left the territory for the International Mandate just before the PDF took Niyi Axi.
Aftermath
Control over the territory was transferred to the People's Republic of Sipula on 1.I.1705, although a PDF presence was maintained to keep order and secure the territory.
