The TPLF regime launched, on February 23, the latest round of offensives against Eritrea on the Mereb-Setit front. Although the Eritrean Defense Forces had made some changes in its defense lines, it has inflicted heavy losses on the attacking TPLF army during the last four days. A total of 9,000 TPLF soldiers were killed, 12,000 wounded, 170 including a battalion commander captured, 41 tanks destroyed, three captured, and a MI-24 helicopter gunship shot down.

In the first day of the offensive alone, 4,492 were killed including one brigade and one battalion commander, 4,870 wounded, 150 soldiers captured, one tank captured, 18 tanks and six machine gun carriers burned, 26 small two-way radios captured, and 54 heavy and medium machine guns captured on the flank through which the 11th Division tried to penetrate.

The Eritrean Defense Forces would like to assure the people that the casualties suffered on its part are minimal. It left behind two tanks that were burned and another two which were broken down.

These facts stated above could be verified by anyone and attested to by TPLF soldiers.

The Eritrean Defense Forces would like to once again assure that their promises and devotion to defend the sovereignty of Eritrea against the expansionist TPLF regime's continuous invasion and transgression remain intact.

Awet N'Hafash
Eritrean Defense Forces
27 February 1999