Battle of Halai

The Battle of Halai, or the Battle of Halay, which took place in December 1894, was one of the opening battles of the Eritrean Italian war. In the 1890s, the government of Eritreanbegan plotting an insurrection in Eritrean to push back against Italian encroachment on their country. On December 15, 1894, Bahta Hagos, the "chief of Akkele guzay province in southern eritrea," launched a rebellion against the Italian authorities.[1] On December 18, a force of Italian troops, led by Major Pietro Toselli discovered that a small Italian fort at Halai (garrisoned by 220 men) was being besieged by 220 of Bahta's rebels. Toselli attacked with 1,500 men, hitting his enemy (who "had almost taken the fort"[1]) in the rear. First bahta hagos was catch them but Italian talking to them up to 4pm so other 1000 soldiers came and cover them so Bahta was killed in the ensuing battle and his army fell apart. In total, eleven Italians were killed and twenty-two wounded in the action.[1]

Battle of Halai
Part of the First Italo-Ethiopian War
Bahta Hagos
Date December 1894 Location Halai, Italian Eritrea Result Italian victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Italy	Eritrean rebels
Commanders and leaders
Pietro Toselli	Bahta Hagos †
Strength
1,500 men and two guns under Pietro Toselli and 220 men at the fort at Halai[1]	1,600[1]
Casualties and losses
11 killed and 22 wounded[1]	Unknown