Indonesian invasion of South Maluku
| Indonesian invasion of South Maluku | |||||||||
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| Part of the aftermath of the Indonesian National Revolution | |||||||||
Animated map of the invasion Indonesian Army M3 Stuart tank and troops patrolling in Ambon | |||||||||
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The Indonesian invasion of South Maluku was a series of military campaigns and subsequent counter-insurgency operations conducted by the armed forces of the Republic of Indonesia (APRIS/TNI) against the Republic of South Maluku (RMS) following the latter's declaration of independence on April 25, 1950. The initial invasion phase saw Indonesian forces rapidly occupy key islands such as Buru, Kai, Tanimbar, and the administrative center of Ambon City by November 1950.
Following the defeat on Ambon, the RMS government and its remaining forces retreated to the island of Seram, initiating a protracted guerrilla conflict that lasted over a decade. The insurgency continued until the capture of RMS President Dr. Chris Soumokil in December 1963, although low-level resistance persisted thereafter.