The Italian-Ethiopian War refers to two conflicts between the Kingdom of Italy and the Ethiopian Empire. The first war occurred from 1895 to 1896, when Italy attempted to expand its colonial empire in Africa. The Ethiopian forces, led by Emperor Menelik II, successfully defeated the Italians at the Battle of Adwa, securing Ethiopian sovereignty and becoming a symbol of resistance against colonialism. The second conflict took place from 1935 to 1936, when Italy, under the regime of Benito Mussolini, invaded Ethiopia again. This time, the Italians used modern military tactics and chemical weapons. The war ended with Italy's occupation of Ethiopia, which lasted until 1941, when Allied forces liberated the country during World War II.