This Day in Eritrea's History:
On Feb. 23, 1999 Ethiopia/TPLF launched the 2nd Offensive to capture Badme (later declared sov
territory) in what historians considered one of the biggest battle on African soil since the expulsion of Nazi forces from Egypt during the WWII.
Ethiopia attacked economic & civilian targets. The US gov stated it deeply regretted the use of air power in the conflict by Ethiopia in particular, against economic targets & near civilian population centers. Ethiopia used a human wave strategy, that led to >10,000 casualties.
Ethiopia launched this attack while it appealed for food aid, for an estimated 5.4 million people. This number increased to 7 million people, in Oct. 1999. Ethiopia was spending 1 million USD per day, to feed its 500,000 soldiers.
10 yrs before this attack (
Feb 15-19, 1989), EPLF forces- 2 mechanized & infantry brigades- crossed the Eritrean border to back the TPLF operation in Shire. EPLF forces, jointly operated with the TPLF against Derg forces. They also launched an offensive, on the 4th Division.
TPLF understates EPLF's decisive role but historians ask; If TPLF was certain of winning all by itself, why did it fall back on the EPLF? Why did the situation change dramatically, soon after the arrival of the EPLF? Why did TPLF thank EPLF so heartedly, right after the end of combat?
Meles Zenawi in 1990 admitted that had it not been for the arrival of EPLF forces, the War in Shire would have taken longer. After the War,
Mengistu said,
The EPLF & TPLF allied to encircle our corps at Shire, because Tigrai was a supply artery to our army in Eritrea & a launching pad.
(History of Eritrea: @Erihistory)
territory) in what historians considered one of the biggest battle on African soil since the expulsion of Nazi forces from Egypt during the WWII. 
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