Battle of Tsorona

Battle of Tsorona
Part of Eritrean–Ethiopian border conflict
Date 12–13 June 2016 (1 day) Location Tsorona, Eritrea 15°N39°E / 15°N 39°E / 15; 39 Territorial changes No territorial changes
Belligerents
Eritrea	Ethiopia
Commanders and leaders
Isaias Afewerki Sebhat Ephrem	Mulatu Teshome Siraj Fergessa
Casualties and losses
18 killed (Eritrean claim) [1] As equal to the Ethiopian losses (Ethiopian claim) [2]	47 killed (Ethiopian claim) [3] 200+ killed, 300+ wounded (Eritrean claim) [2]

The Battle of Tsorona was an engagement between the Eritrean and the Ethiopian armies fought near the border town of Tsorona. ^[4] Eritrean government statements identified Ethiopian armed forces as the aggressors and the Ethiopian government using a smokescreen of propaganda to justify the attack. ^[2]

Background

Following the Eritrean–Ethiopian War which lasted from 1998 to 2000, Eritrea–Ethiopia relations have remained tense, with multiple small border skirmishes occuring as a part of the wider Eritrean–Ethiopian border conflict. The 2016 engagement, which utilized "medium- and long-range artillery" was seen as a more serious altercation. ^[4]

Battle

Eritrean claims

According to the Eritrean Information Ministry, Ethiopian forces attacked Eritrean troops at Tsorona on Sunday, June 12, 2016. ^[2] After an overnight battle, the troops were repelled on Monday, June 13, 2016. ^[2] Ethiopian forces quickly withdrew back over the border, with Eritrea estimating Ethiopian losses at 200 dead and 300 wounded, Eritrea claims 18 losses during the battle. ^{[1] [4]}

Ethiopian claims

Ethiopian government spokesman Getachew Reda initially denied any knowledge of clashes between Eritrea and Ethiopia. ^[5] Subsequent comments by the Ethiopian government spokesman claimed "there were significant casualties on both sides." ^[6]

References

1. "Commemoration of Martyrs Day". Archived from the original on June 21, 2016. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
2. "Press Release". Archived from the original on 2016-06-20. Retrieved 2016-06-19.
3. AFP. 'Significant' Casualities[sic] in Eritrea and Ethiopia Border Battle. June 13, 2016. Accessed July 06, 2016.
4. "Latest Ethiopia-Eritrea Clash is Culmination of Long-festering Tensions". Archived from the original on 2016-08-09. Retrieved 2016-06-19.
5. "Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of launching border attack". 2016-06-13. Retrieved 2016-06-19.
6. "Ethiopia and Eritrea blame each other for border clash" . Retrieved 2016-06-19.