Draft:Battle of Mendefera


Battle of Mendefera
Part of Eritrean War of Independence
DateAugust, 1977
Location
Result ELF victory, the city of Mendefera is liberated
Belligerents
Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) Ethiopia
Commanders and leaders
Hamid Mahmoud Unknown
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Minimum 40 casualties 450 casualties, 800 soldiers captured

The Battle of Mendefera was a battle fought to liberate Mendefera in 1977. It was between the Eritrean Liberation Front and Ethiopia.[1] As the Ethiopian military became occupied by the Ogaden War in the year 1977, it gave leverage to the Eritrean Liberation Front to take advantage of their vulnerable situation. As such they launched a military offensive to liberate various Eritrean cities and towns including Agordat, Mendefera, and Adi Quala.[2] Towards the end of 1977, approximately 90 percent of the Eritrean landmass was under the control of the ELF and EPLF. The remaining areas not liberated were the capital Asmara, Barentu, Adi Keyh, Massawa, and Assab.[3]

Prior to the battle of Mendefera, the ELF liberated the town of Debarwa in June 1977 in order to secure a strategic location to Mendefera. The Eritrean freedom fighters infiltrated Mendefera in July 1977 and by the end of August the city was under control of the ELF. Approximately 40 ELF fighters stormed the centre of Mendefera, and were killed by the Ethiopian army. The Ethiopians lost 400 soldiers in battle and 800 were taken prisoners. In addition, the ELF managed to capture 2 tanks, 20 military vehicles, and 430 weapons and other military ware.[4]

After the liberation of Mendefera, the city was subject to aerial bombardments by the Ethiopian military. The city had a short-lived liberation as the Ethiopians recaptured the city in July 1978.[5]

Notes

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  1. ^ "From the Experiences of the Eritrean Liberation Army (ELA)" (PDF).
  2. ^ Weldeghiorghis Tedla, Michael (2014). The Eritrean Liberation Front: social and political factors shaping its emergence, development and demise, 1960-1981. Leiden University Scholarly Publications. p. 112.
  3. ^ Weldeghiorghis Tedla, Michael (2014). The Eritrean Liberation Front: social and political factors shaping its emergence, development and demise, 1960-1981. Leiden University Scholarly Publications. p. 112.
  4. ^ "From the Experiences of the Eritrean Liberation Army (ELA)" (PDF).
  5. ^ Connell, Dan (2019). Historical dictionary of Eritrea (Third ed.). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 309. ISBN 978-1538120651.