Eritrean air defences “caught off guard”

Eritrean presidential spokesperson Yemane Gebremeskel conceded on Wednesday that Eritrean air defences had been caught off guard during Monday’s Ethiopian air raid on Asmara’s military airport. Eyewitnesses at the time reported that despite the elaborate anti-aircraft defences deployed around the airport, the four attacking MiG-23s encountered no fire from the ground. Only after the planes completed their attack and headed back towards Ethiopia was there a brief burst of anti-aircraft fire. Two Eritrean MiG-29s, which had been on patrol more or less constantly during the morning of the attack, were on the ground when it took place. Yemane told IRIN that the attacking planes had flown in very low, under the radar screen, and this had confused the defences. Such things could happen despite vigilance,” he said. “There are moments of laxity. Under strain you can be caught off guard,” Yemane said.