Press Release
Ethiopian Cowardly Air Raid Around Assab

Ethiopian fighter aircraft today bombed the environs of Assab airport at 9:55 a.m. The high altitude air raid did not hit any target. Thus, there were no human casualties or damage of any kind.

The senseless bombing seemed to be prompted by the TPLF's apparent desire to give the impression of a military edge just prior to the forthcoming OAU Summit in Algiers.

The TPLF was heavily battered in the offensive it launched from June 10-16 this month in which it suffered more than 18,000 soldiers killed or wounded while four MiG-23 fighter aircraft and a MI-35 helicopter gunship were destroyed.

In spite of these heavy losses and in a bid to reverse the trend, the TPLF opened a new attack yesterday on the right flank of the Mereb-Setit front which was quickly foiled.

Today's cowardly and fruitless air bombing can be seen as a psychological attempt to make up for TPLF's increasing ground defeats.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara, 26 June 1999