#Fenkil Operation Facts
On Feb. 10, 1990 #Massawa was liberated & returned to its owners after 433 years of successive colonization & occupation by #Turkey (1557-1865), #Egyptians (1865-1885), #Italians (1885-1941), #British Mil Admin (1941-1952), #Ethiopia (1952-1990). 1
On the night of February 8, 1990 #EPLF forces launched a surprise attack on #Ethiopian army to liberate the Port City of #Massawa. A year earlier, EPLF built up its naval capabilities consisting of a small fleet of gun boats.
Map credit Tom Cooper. 2
#Eritrea
#EPLF forces that launched the Offensive from Sheeb demolished the 6th Division’s headquarters within 3 hrs and its deputy commander was captured. EPLF forces destroyed the 21st, 83rd, 112th, and 113th Brigades within five hours. 3
#Eritrea, #Massawa #Fenkil
#EPLA smashed the 3rd, 27th, 29th Mechaized Brigade, 4th Tanks Brig, 18th Infantry Div. and additional 2 Mechanize Brig and cut the #Asmara-#Massawa route at #Gahtelay. Rescue forces dispatched from Asmara & Forto were beaten at #Dogali and #Ghindae. 4
#Eritrea #Fenkil
#EPLF deployed 13,500 freedom fighters, 45 tanks, 100 MM artillery, 31 heavy artillery (130, 122 & 85 mm), 4 BM 21 rockets, 20 anti-aircraft & anti-tank, more than 10 speed boats. The Derg had 25k soldiers, including 3k strong naval force, 150 tanks, 70 heavy artillery, 5
30 small & big warships, several fighter jets, more 100 artilleries, several anti-tank missiles. One #EPLF tank was fighting against 3.3 Derg tanks. Fenkil Operation saw one of the largest tank to tank battles in the world. 6
#Eritrea #Massawa #Fenkil
While the #EPLF army divisions in #Eritrea were in full preparation for the Operation, the 70th division of the #EPLF meanwhile was conducting operations inside #Ethiopia, Asosa, around 1800 km far from Eritrea, as a maneuvering tactic. 7
The #EPLF launched the coordinated attack to take over #Massawa across 200 Kms defense lines stretching from the western periphery of #Keren southwards to Ras Kobae, 40 Kms north of Massawa. The Operation covered 1560 km2. 8 #Eritrea
In the attack on #Ethiopian Naval Base, #EPLA land forces & speedboats fired salvos of artillery & mortar shells, about 200 shells a minute. EPLA sent in to the 2 captured Ethiopian tanks shooting to the rear as a disguise, causing damage & confusion. 9
#Eritrea #Massawa #Fenkil
Operation #Fenkil took 59 hours to complete. The Operation involved a strong combination of ground troops, naval troops, & the mechanized front. The operation resulted in the surrender of 20,000 Ethiopian soldiers including generals. 10
#Eritrea #Massawa
After the Derg/#Ethiopia was defeated in the #Fenkil Operation, Derg bombed #Massawa, killed hundreds of civilians and destroyed the historic city. 11
After the liberation of Massawa, #Ethiopian/Derg unsuccessfully launched Operations, “Massawa” “ዘመቻ ምጽዋዕ”, March 1-3, 1990, Revenge, “ዘመቻ ደም-መላሽ” March 12, “ዘመቻ ገስጥ” “ Admonish” March 29 to April 1, “ዘመቻ ኣድን” “Save”, April 6-10... 12
#Eritrea #Massawa
“ዘመቻ በጥስ” “Overrun” 19-23 April, “ውግእ ሰሜናዊ-ባሕሪ” “Battle of Eastern Escarpment”, April 19-27, “ዘመቻ ኣሉላ” “Alula Operation” was foiled before execution because #EPLF launched attacks in Debub Region. 13
#Eritrea #Massawa
While 1100 freedom fighters were martyred in #Fenkil Operation, 3000 freedom fighters were martyred in these attacks. Ethiopian gov documents show 30,000 #Ethiopian soldiers were out of action in these Operations. 14

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More from @Erihistory

Dec 8, 2022
1. On Dec. 4, 1939 In Ibrahim al-Mukhtar was appointed as Mufti for #Eritrea. Although #Italian Adm. suggested to bring an Islamic cleric from #Libya to take charge of Islamic affairs, local leaders rejected the idea & pushed for the appointment of Shiek Ibrahim al-Mukhtar. Sheik Ibrahim al-Mukhtar, Center
2. In 1969 Sheik Ibrahim al-Mukhtar passed away due to illness but then Governor Asrate Kassa refused to appoint any of the Muslim community's nominees for Mufti, and the Derg continued this policy until 1991.
3. After the Independence of #Eritrea, the gov reestablished Muslim institutions, including the office of Mufti, Shari'a courts, & regional #Islamic councils (Mejlis al-Awkaf). In 1992 Sheik Alamin Osman became Mufti of Eritrea & served as a Mufti until his death in May 2017.
Read 4 tweets
Nov 22, 2022
November 20 in the #History of #Eritrea.
1. On Nov. 20 1989, #EPLF & the #Ethiopian gov/Derg began peace talks in #Nairobi, #Kenya under the auspices of @CarterCenter & by the invitation of President Arap Moi of Kenya. The peace talks lasted until November 29.
2. At Nairobi Peace talks, they agreed on 3 issues that weren't agreed upon in #Atlanta, cleared the way for substantive negotiations, agreed to invite ex #Tanzanian Pres. Nyerere to be co-host wz Carter during the main talks & the 2 agreed to choose the sec & support staff.
3. The most difficult issue that the Parties discussed & finally agreed was "who would serve as int'l observer" during the main talks. 7 observers, 2 by each Party & 3 by mutual consent. #Kenya, #Sudan, #Tanzania, #OAU, #Zimbabwe & #Senegal were invited & accepted the invitation
Read 5 tweets
Nov 3, 2022
On Nov. 2, 1958 #Eritrean nationalists founded the underground Eritrean Liberation Movement (#ELM), Harakat El Tahrir El Eritrya in Arabic; Mahber Shewate, in Tigrinya in Port #Sudan to topple #Ethiopian rule in #Eritrea through a coup d’état. 1
#ELM mobilized both the #Moslem & #Christian communities. By Apr 1959 clandestine cells were established in almost all #Eritrean towns. ELM held its 1st congress in #Asmara in 1960 under the slogan "Muslims & Christians are brothers & their unity makes Eritrea one nation" 2 Founders of ELM.
In 1965, despite #ELF's warning not to launch an armed struggle but to join the existing liberation front, #ELM sent its forces to the northern hills of #Eritrea. The ELF decided to resolve the disagreement by force & attacked ELM forces in May, 1995 at at Ela Tza’ada. 3 The first clandestine cells members of ELM, Mahber Shew'ate
Read 6 tweets
Nov 1, 2022
On Oct. 31, 2002 the Gov of #Eritrea informed the #UNSC then tplf led gov of #Ethiopia announced the creation of an axis with the #Sudan & #Yemen to perpetrate acts of subversion and aggression against Eritrea...1
The Gov of #Eritrea stated; #Ethiopia was resorting to all sorts of obstructive & provocative acts to frustrate the implementation of the Boundary Commission in violation of the #Algiers Peace Agreements & the relevant resolutions of the #UNSC...2
...#Yemen was likewise involved in the violation of the decisions of the Arbitration Commission on the Hanish islands & the delimitation of the maritime boundary. #Eritrea & Yemen publicly accepted the binding decision of Commission but Yemen was raising new claims....3
Read 5 tweets
Oct 30, 2022
On 28 Oct. 1993 Mr. Ariel Karem, Israel's 1st AMB to #Eritrea presented his credentials to Pres. Isaias. Israel sent a rep (befor Eritrea's official indp), Mr. Menashe Zipori on Feb 24, 1993 following the meeting between Pres. Isaias & PM Rabin on Feb 15, 1993 in #Israel. 1/11
#Eritrea & #Israel
#Jews first settled in Eritrea in the late 19th century, emigrating from #Yemen in search of econ & com opportunities. In 1905, #Asmara #Hebrew Congregation was formed. During the 1930s, many Jews arrived in Eritrea fleeing Nazi persecution in #Europe. 2/11
#Eritrea & #Israel
On June 26, 1943 #GreatBritain proposed the creation of Jewish colonies in #Eritrea as the extension #Jewish settlement in #Palestine. But this proposal did not materialize. 3/11
Read 11 tweets
Sep 14, 2022
#Eritrea & #India relations

The archaeological findings of coins from ancient India in Eritrea & ancient texts proved the presence of #Indian merchants at #Adulis coast. Gupta Art (well-known in #Indian religion) dated to 4th- 6th century AD was also discovered in Adulis. 1/9 Image
The Periplus of Erythrean Sea details a large number of items exported from #India through #Adulis such as long pepper, black pepper & transparent gems. The Christian Topography of Cosmas records that emeralds came from #Beja were taken to India by merchants. 2/9 #Eritrea
Image
Image
The onyx bezel of a ring engraved with an eagle on a globe, an opal bezel bearing an image identified as Jupiter Ammon, & a carnelian inscribed with 4 letters in a possible ancient #Indian script were recorded at #Adulis. An amphora was also discovered in Adulis. 3/9 #Eritrea
Read 9 tweets

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