Battle of Tsorona
{{Short description|2016 Eritrea–Ethiopia border skirmish}}
{{infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of Tsorona
| partof = Eritrean–Ethiopian border conflict
| image =
| caption =
| date = 12–13 June 2016
({{Age in months, weeks and days|year1=2016|month1=06|day1=12|year2=2016|month2=06|day2=13}})
| coordinates = {{Coord|15|N|39|E|display=title}}
| map_type =
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| territory = No territorial changes
| result =
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| combatant1 = {{flag|Eritrea}}
| combatant2 = {{flag|Ethiopia}}
| combatant3 =
| commander1 = {{flagdeco|Eritrea}} Isaias Afewerki
{{flagdeco|Eritrea}} Sebhat Ephrem
| commander2 = {{flagdeco|Ethiopia}} Mulatu Teshome
{{flagdeco|Ethiopia}} Siraj Fergessa
| units1 =
| units2 =
| strength1 =
| strength2 =
| casualties1 = 18 killed
(Eritrean claim){{cite web|url=http://shabait.com/news/local-news/22038-commemoration-of-martyrs-day-|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160621105455/http://www.shabait.com/news/local-news/22038-commemoration-of-martyrs-day-|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 21, 2016|title=Commemoration of Martyrs Day|access-date=2016-06-20}}
As equal to the Ethiopian losses
(Ethiopian claim)
| casualties2 = 47 killed
(Ethiopian claim)AFP. [https://news.yahoo.com/significant-casualties-eritrea-ethiopia-clash-ethiopia-151919190.html 'Significant' {{sic|Casua|lities|nolink=y}} in Eritrea and Ethiopia Border Battle.] June 13, 2016. Accessed July 06, 2016.
200+ killed, 300+ wounded
(Eritrean claim){{cite web|url=http://shabait.com/news/local-news/22014--press-release|title=Press Release|access-date=2016-06-19|archive-date=2016-06-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620044808/http://shabait.com/news/local-news/22014--press-release|url-status=dead}}
| notes =
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Eritrean–Ethiopian conflict}}
}}
The Battle of Tsorona was an engagement between the Eritrean and the Ethiopian armies fought near the border town of Tsorona.{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/latest-ethiopia-eritrea-clash-culmination-of-long-festering-tensions/3380322.html|title=Latest Ethiopia-Eritrea Clash is Culmination of Long-festering Tensions|access-date=2016-06-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809081347/http://www.voanews.com/content/latest-ethiopia-eritrea-clash-culmination-of-long-festering-tensions/3380322.html|archive-date=2016-08-09|url-status=live}} Eritrean government statements identified Ethiopian armed forces as the aggressors and the Ethiopian government using a smokescreen of propaganda to justify the attack.
Background
Relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia have been brittle and tensions between the two countries have remained high after both countries fought each other in the Eritrean–Ethiopian War which lasted from 1998 to 2000, and since the end of the war there have been a number of small border skirmishes between the two countries using small arms, however the 2016 engagement utilized "medium- and long-range artillery".
Battle
= Eritrean claims =
According to the Eritrean Information Ministry, Ethiopian forces attacked Eritrean troops at Tsorona on Sunday, June 12, 2016. After an overnight battle, the troops were repelled on Monday, June 13, 2016. Ethiopian forces quickly withdrew back over the border, with Eritrea estimating Ethiopian losses at 200 dead and 300 wounded, Eritrea claims 18 losses during the battle.
= Ethiopian claims =
Ethiopian government spokesman Getachew Reda initially denied any knowledge of clashes between Eritrea and Ethiopia.{{cite web|url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/africa/2016/06/13/Eritrea-accuses-Ethiopia-of-launching-border-attack|title=Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of launching border attack|date=2016-06-13|access-date=2016-06-19}} Subsequent comments by the Ethiopian government spokesman claimed "there were significant casualties on both sides."{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36515503|title=Ethiopia and Eritrea blame each other for border clash|access-date=2016-06-19}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Eritrean–Ethiopian border conflict (1998–2018)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tsorona, Battle of}}
Category:June 2016 in Ethiopia