Date: Thu, 21 May 2015 19:56:02 +0200
The 1st operation of #EPLF commandos at Sembel Airport - 1984, Asmara, #Eritrea
May 21st 1984, a highly trained special commando troops were on a top-secret and risky mission. They were going to pierce into the enemy lines and strike from the inside. The commandos trained in the Revolution's base, Sahel, which is more than 250 kilometers afar from Asmara. And after tremendous and extensive field research, they came all the way to Asmara unnoticed and were ready to strike their target at 20:00 military time.
Sixteen in number, armed with kalashnkov and light-weapon; the commandos went into the enemy lines and attacked the then Ethiopia Air Force. The operation took place with in 18 minutes of action, leaving 33 enemy military aircrafts including 16 MIG fighter jets into ashes.
While all reported back to base, only one got martyred. His name was Mebrahtu Ghebrehiwet, code named as Embaye.
The humiliated Derg officers that day acted cowardly and were dragging martyr Mebrahtu’s body in order to impress the fuming Mengistu Hailemariam, who was visiting the destroyed airbase. They then tied Martyr Mebrahtu’s body onto their military truck and brutally began playing with his dead body. But furious Mengistu can’t help but scolded his coward armies and ordered them to stop their idiocy at once. He, instead, ordered them to bury him properly, saying that “he has martyred for the principle he believed.”
May 21st 1984, a highly trained special commando troops were on a top-secret and risky mission. They were going to pierce into the enemy lines and strike from the inside. The commandos trained in the Revolution's base, Sahel, which is more than 250 kilometers afar from Asmara. And after tremendous and extensive field research, they came all the way to Asmara unnoticed and were ready to strike their target at 20:00 military time.
Sixteen in number, armed with kalashnkov and light-weapon; the commandos went into the enemy lines and attacked the then Ethiopia Air Force. The operation took place with in 18 minutes of action, leaving 33 enemy military aircrafts including 16 MIG fighter jets into ashes.
While all reported back to base, only one got martyred. His name was Mebrahtu Ghebrehiwet, code named as Embaye.
The humiliated Derg officers that day acted cowardly and were dragging martyr Mebrahtu’s body in order to impress the fuming Mengistu Hailemariam, who was visiting the destroyed airbase. They then tied Martyr Mebrahtu’s body onto their military truck and brutally began playing with his dead body. But furious Mengistu can’t help but scolded his coward armies and ordered them to stop their idiocy at once. He, instead, ordered them to bury him properly, saying that “he has martyred for the principle he believed.”
1979 EPLF interview
Their History will live forever!!!
PS: Couple of Photos are added by me. Berhane