The Eritrean Ministry of Defence says its army has shot down two Ethiopian SU-27 fighter jets and a MI-24 helicopter gunship on the Mereb-Setit front. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement also said “human wave attacks against Eritrean positions” had resulted in the death of “thousands” of Ethiopian troops. It said an “Ethiopian goal of a quick victory” was “mind-boggling” after the experience of two years of conflict. Diplomatic sources in Eritrea say that despite Ethiopian claims, the Eritrean government feels it has been able to cope with the surprise Ethiopian offensive, but that the situation remains very fluid.
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