Press Release, 7:30 a.m. LT

Two Ethiopian MiG-23 Fighter Aircraft Shot Down

Two Ethiopian MiG-23 fighter planes were shot down around 2:00 p.m. yesterday, June 16, 1999, on the Mereb-Setit front. This brings to five the number of Ethiopian fighter aircraft (four MiG-23 planes and one helicopter gunship) shot down since the resumption of fighting last week.

The two aircraft were hit at high altitude as they encroached on Eritrean airspace and fell behind Ethiopian front lines. Both pilots are presumed to be dead.

Meanwhile, ground fighting on the Mereb-Setit front, which continued with less intensity in the past two days, has resumed this morning. Although figures for the last two days were not yet available, Ethiopian cumulative losses were over 18,000 killed and wounded in the intense battles that took place from 10-14 June, 1999.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara, 17 June 1999