Eritrea Online / Dehai Homepage
1. Eritrea has inflicted heavy human losses on the attacking Ethiopian army since the latter launched a full-scale attack on the Mereb-Setit front on Tuesday, 23 February 1999. Ethiopia's mechanized divisions have suffered heavy battering with 31 tanks destroyed and three captured in the pitched fighting on Tuesday and Wednesday alone. One MI-24 helicopter gunship was shot down. Ethiopia's repeated assaults with human waves were repulsed in the subsequent days inflicting huge losses on the six-division-strong Ethiopian army that has been unleashing the attacks.
But, in spite of its heavy losses, the Ethiopian army was able today to penetrate through one position through repetitive assaults. This made Eritrea's fixed defense lines vulnerable, prompting Eritrean armed forces to withdraw and re-establish a new frontline. According to reports from the Eritrean Ministry of Defense, "this change can only be temporary." Military updates from the front are saying, "Ethiopia's contingents on the Mereb-Setit front have suffered such huge casualties that they will not be able to change the military balance."
Veronica Rentmeesters, Information Officer
Embassy of Eritrea to the US
1708 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington DC 20009, USA TEL: 202 588 7587 FAX: 202 319 1304
E-M: veronicX@embassyeritrea.org