Sporadic skirmish reported throughout the Ethiopia-Eritrea border

Tigrai Online, July 26, 2017

Intermittent fighting was reported between Ethiopian and Eritrean forces starting July 19, 2017 until yesterday July 25, 2017.

According to social media reports the first incident sparked last week when a group of about 40 Eritreans were shot at by the Eritrean army when they were trying to cross to Ethiopia. The Ethiopian army responded and the exchange continued for some time that day.

Since then the skirmish has expanded in to many fronts of the tense border between the two countries. According to Erimedrek Radio news report the fighting was started when some Eritrean supported terrorist groups try to attack Ethiopian military positions and the Ethiopian defense forces retaliating strongly. Fighting is going on the until now the radio news said. Based on the news report the fighting has spread all the way to Badme and Elala in the western front and Tserona front in the central front. It is known the first fighting erupted around the localities of Erob in the Eastern front.

Meantime on Monday morning July 24, 2017 Ethiopian military jet fighters destroyed a military depot in Elala south western Eritrea near the small town of Shambuko. According to the news report the Ethiopian jets completely obliterated the warehouse.

The skirmish in many of the fronts was supported by heavy weapons including artillery. The Eritrean opposition radio said some civilians around Shambuko area have fled their homes because of heavy shelling.

At this time the tension is at its highest at the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea and the military on both sides are at a standby.

The Eritrean government has been provoking Ethiopia for the past few years by arming, training, transporting, and supporting many armed rebel and terrorist groups against Ethiopia. Eritrea with the help of Egypt and other anti Ethiopian elements in the Middle East have been inciting public unrest including the one last year which many innocent Ethiopians lost their lives.

The Ethiopian government has said it was formulating a new strategic policy towards Eritrea, but we have not seen the details of the new policy and there is no indication what entails.

Horn of Africa analysts who have intimate knowledge of both Eritrea and Ethiopia suggest the Eritrean government is repeating the same fatal error it did in 1998 when it invaded Ethiopia. They say; the Eritrean regime is assuming if it couples a military offensive with Ethiopian public unrest it can easily overthrow the Ethiopian government.

The reality on the ground is quite different, the Ethiopia we know now is very different from the one in 1998. Ethiopia is much stronger militarily, economically, diplomatically, and in its overall strength. In addition the Ethiopian government and people are very much aware of the Eritrean and Egyptian imitations towards their country so, no surprise attack this time because Ethiopia and Ethiopians are fully ready not only to defend their country, but to take the fight to enemy’s door step.

If the PFDJ regime in Eritrea launches an offensive against Ethiopia, it would be solely responsible for all aftermath of the war including the disintegration of the country.