Thread by @Erihistory

#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