Tigray forces foil Eritrean troops attack, kill hundreds - spokesman

FILE PHOTO: Ethiopia's Government Communications Affairs Office Minister Getachew Reda addresses a news conference on the violent protests that have been taking place in the Oromiya Region from last November, in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa February 25, 2016. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri

ADDIS ABABA - The Tigray Defense Forces [TDF] reportedly killed hundreds of Eritrean soldiers during a counteroffensive, which if independently verified, would be the worst defeat to President Isaias Afwerki, who has been accused of meddling in the Tigray conflict.

For months, Eritrea has been linked to atrocities in the Tigray region where thousands of civilians and local militia have reportedly been killed. Eritrea works closely with the regime of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is the architect of the current war.

Getachew Reda, the official spokesperson of TDF and the Tigray administration claimed the Tigray troops responded to an attack engineered by Eritrea troops on May 24th, leading to hundreds of deaths. The troops from Eritrea's 57th and 21st divisions allegedly took part in the fight.

The incident reportedly took place near Adi Awalla village within Tigray and at least 300 Eritrean troops were killed during the offensive which is yet to be verified independently. Several weapons were captured by the Tigrayan forces, he added.

"An offensive launched by Eritrea’s 57th and 21st divisions on the 24th of May was thwarted and the units deployed by the Isaias regime decimated after a successful counteroffensive by our forces around AdiAwalla, Tigray. A brigade commander, three battalion commanders, and more than 300 soldiers were killed and wounded. Many weapons and materiel were also captured," he said.

"As part of their desperate attempt to escalate the tension and drag us into more action, they shelled Sheraro on the 28th and 29th of May. It is clear that the regime will stop at nothing to drag the region into an interminable conflict and sabotage in a real or perceived effort at peace," added the former federal information minister.

Tigray authorities now want the international community to continue exerting pressure on Eritrea over the violation of human rights in the country. Eritrea was blamed for orchestrating a massacre in the Tigray region and the United Nations along with other partners called for immediate withdrawal by Asmara.

"It behooves the International community to exert pressure on the regime to reverse course while reiterating our unwillingness to let the regime prolong the suffering of our people, " Reda added just a few days after he confirmed that several aid groups have arrived in Tigray after the blockade was lifted by the Ethiopian government.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed maintained that his administration is keen to ensure normal operations within the region which has been entangled in war since November 2020. The 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner has also been accused of promoting intolerance within the Horn of Africa nation.

Ethiopia is also facing a host of internal challenges including ethnic unrest within the Oromia, Amhara, Afar, and Somali regions. The country, which enjoyed relative peace after Abiy Ahmed took over in 2018, has been incomplete shambles and not even efforts by the African Union to restore peace have borne fruits.

GAROWE ONLINE