Florian invasion of Port Balaine

This article relates to a current event. Information may quickly become out of date as the event progresses.

Operation Python
Date 1705 AN – Location International waters surrounding the Liberation Islands and Port Balaine. Status Buildup of military vessels surrounding the Liberation Islands and Port Balaine. Offensive into the north of Wells. The Promenade besieged.
Belligerents
Floria	Port Balaine
Units involved
Fleet Command Coastguard Norfolk Isles Squadron 205th Army XXIV Corps	Port Balaine Gendarmery
Strength
50% of available naval assets, including: 10 frigates 12 coastal submarines 40 troop landing ships

The Florian invasion of Port Balaine is an ongoing military operation in Port Balaine by Floria with the objective of reclaiming the Norfolk Isles back into Florian control for the first time since the occupation of Los Liberados.

Background

After the successful territorial claim of Outer Mesoun. Florian President Ronald Trueman ordered Florian Navy vessels to swiftly surround Port Balaine and the Norfolk Isles plus increase military presence in the Liberation Islands. Floria has a history with the Norfolk Isles formerly occupying Los Liberados which is now partially part of the Liberation Islands. However, the southern islands of the Norfolks became the independent nation of Port Balaine angering Florian ultranationalists and a large section of the United Party of the Republic. Trueman in a statement to Florian media such as the international TV network Floria Today said that there was 'Unfinished business' with the archipelago.

Since the start of the military buildup, there was no official response from Port Balainian officials.

After Floria was put in martial law by President Trueman in 1706 AN, Florian naval vessels proceeded to block routes out of the archipelago only allowing Florian ships to pass. Two days before Founders Day, Florian vessels began the attack with President Trueman planning a swift annexation of the territory to be celebrated on the national holiday.

Events

Wells Offensive

Florian progress in the first day of the land offensive.

After the initial shelling of some settlements in Wells, landing parties formed from units of the XXIV Corps arrived from Augusto and, upon disembarkation, immediately commenced raiding the village in the north of the island. The first settlement to fall into Florian control.

Reactions

International

•  Jääland: Petri Pukki confirmed neutrality in the conflict stating that support for Floria could have large implications regarding economic sanctions.
•  Hurmu: Lyudmila Eduardovna, chair of the Senate's diplomatic committee, deplored Floria's invasion, and urged Floria to respect the territorial integrity of Port Balaine. Hurmu would be open to discussing sanctions against Floria within the WANC framework, but would find difficulties in doing so due to the Hurmu–Raspur Pact Free Trade Agreement. Moreover, Hurmu's embassy in The Promenade called for all Hurmu citizens to leave the islands, if possible. Moreover, Hurmu citizens were recommended to avoid travelling to Port Balaine.
•  Sanama: The Sanaman government issued a condemnation of the invasion of a sovereign nation, and would bring up the issue of sanctions against Floria with the members of WANC, most notably Kildare.
•  Benacian Union: The legatine mission of the Benacian Union in Northcliff is reported to have advised the Florian foreign ministry that, while the objective of conquering the Norfolk Isles is a worthy one, long term structural obstacles may delay or prevent the recognition of any changes to the status quo by the international community.
•  Suren: The Maijis-e Suren passed a resolution which expressed its support for the Florian invasion, in spite of seemingly having only a hazy grasp of the actual location of Port Balaine.
•  Phineonesian Confederation: President of Phinbella, Muhammad Furkorn Mat Jeen strongly condemned Floria’s invasion of Port Balaine which is a sovereign state. He said that although this country was part of Florian history, it did not mean that it arbitrarily invaded the country, this was a war crime offense under Micras law.

Domestic

Anti-Trueman Administration protests.

• Widespread riots throughout Northcliff occurred throughout the city with protestors raising issues against the rise of Florian ultranationalism and the recent lack of Florian democracy before the invasion.
• Outside the Presidential Palace, protestors held up banners of President Trueman with a Jeremy Spencer moustache, branding him as Jeremy Spencer 2.0
• However in Southern cities, the invasion encouraged rallies of support in city squares further dividing the nation.