Final answer:
Benito Mussolini's Italian forces invaded Ethiopia in 1935 to expand the Italian empire, with the invasion ultimately resulting in Ethiopia's annexation despite global scrutiny.
Step-by-step explanation:
To expand the Italian empire, Mussolini invaded Ethiopia in an effort to reincorporate more of Africa into Italy's domain, reigniting the glory of the ancient Roman Empire. The invasion of Ethiopia started on October 3, 1935, when Italian forces marched into the country from neighboring colonies in Eritrea and Somalia. Despite Ethiopia's appeals to the League of Nations and the imposition of some economic sanctions, the international response was largely ineffective, ultimately leading to Ethiopia's fall and its formal annexation by Italy in May 1936. Mussolini's aggression in Africa was part of a broader expansionist policy that also saw Italian forces engage unsuccessfully in other military operations, such as in Greece and later in Egypt where they were rebuffed by British Commonwealth forces.