Battle of Aileu

Battle of Aileu
Part of Indonesian invasion of East Timor
Date 23 – 29 December 1975 Location Aileu, East Timor Result Indonesian victory Indonesian forces occupied Fatobanae, Balibar, Besilau, and Aileu
Belligerents
Indonesia	Fretilin
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Unknown
Units involved
Kopassus	FALINTIL
Strength
Hundreds of soldiers	Thousands of soldiers
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Battle of Aileu was an series of assaults launched by Indonesian combined forces with objective weakned the Fretilin resistance around Aileu Municipality. The battle was ended with occupation of Aileu by Indonesian forces.

On 23 December 1975 the Indonesian forces on Dili launched planned an assault on Aileu Municipality, before conducting the assault they need to outcrosses Fatoebanae, Balibar, and Besilau. The Indonesian forces composed with Kopassus and Brigif-4/KTDAD was faced an trouble during outcrossing the Aileu Municipality the forces engaged an Fretilin clashes around Aileu.^[1]

On the same day the Indonesian forces managed to captured Fatoebanae from Fretilin forces, meanwhile a heavy resistance was occurred on Balibar but Balibar was captured on 25 December after the Indonesian forces bombarded the town with mortars.^[2]

Attacks on Aileu divided into two axis Brigif-4/KTDAD aiming to occupied Aileu from Fretilin, and Kopassus targeting the supplies line of Fretilin forces at eastern Aileu. The movement of Brigif-4/KTDAD was not going smoothly when the Fretilin companies launched fire contacts at latenight, after the Indonesian forces received supplies they able to defeated Fretilin defence line.^[1]

On 10.00 am the Indonesian forces occupied Aileu and successfully to captured whole of Aileu Municipality, Aileu was occupied after the Fretilin forces retreated to southern and western Aileu. They continued to move through Maubisse and Ainaro. The Indonesian forces launched an assault to Ainaro in the end the Indonesian forces captured Ainaro on 23 February 1976.^[2]

After the assault on Aileu the Indonesian forces planned to occupied several town such as Bobonaro, Suai, Atsabe, Ermera, Maubisse, Ainaro, Same, Manatuto, Viqueque, Lautem, and Los Palos. Part of the town was occupied by Indonesian forces due to the Fretilin retreated action to forest. The assault action ended on 31 March 1976 when many of the strategic town on East Timor was occupied by Indonesian forces.^[1]