Press Release
Ethiopian Regime Opens an Offensive on the Assab Front

The Ethiopian regime has unleashed an offensive on the Assab front today, Sunday, 14 February, 1999. The attack, which was accompanied by air bombardment of the environs of the frontline by Antonov 130 planes, started at 6:30 a.m. The Assab front is about 71 kms from the port city of Assab.

Today's attack comes in the wake of the staggering defeats that the TPLF army has suffered on the other two fronts earlier this week. The 20th Division was virtually decimated and the 24th Division heavily battered on the Tsorona flank of the Alitena-Mereb front while four brigades were routed on the Mereb-Setit front.

Ethiopia is resorting to air bombardment, in violation of the US-brokered moratorium on air strikes, because it has received a heavy pounding in the ground fighting. The United States government has subsequently urged Ethiopia "not to use further air attacks." The town of Adi Qwala, a constellation of villages in the Zalembesa area, and the village of Deda Lalai were bombed by air in the past few days. Sixteen civilians were killed while twenty others were seriously wounded in these air attacks.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara, 14 February 1999