[ad_1]
ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) – The Ethiopian government said its military operations in the northern regional state of Tigray are now in their “final and crucial phase,” as the Ethiopian army announced the capture of strategic cities from the Popular Front. Tigray Liberation Force (TPLF) fighters in different directions throughout the troubled region.
The statement was made by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who emphasized that “the second phase of the law enforcement actions that we started in the Tigray region has been completed. We are now in the final and third phase.”
“The law enforcement operation has reached the third and crucial phase. This third phase is the final step in bringing the treacherous TPLF clique to justice. Clearly, it requires a lot of wisdom, caution and patience,” said the first. Ethiopian minister. in a statement issued Sunday night.
According to Ahmed, in previous weeks, the Ethiopian government had embarked on the first two phases, in which the first phase was said to consist of remobilizing and strengthening defense forces that were attacked “by its own people and restoring the chain of command. broken in allowing them to carry out their mandate effectively. “
“As a result, the defense forces quickly recovered, with great perseverance, passion and courage, from the tragic attacks they encountered. With the full support of the Ethiopian people at heart, the National Defense Forces are moving in different directions, with great haste and speed, to bring to justice the treacherous TPLF clique, “he added.
Since the early morning of November 4, the Ethiopian government has been conducting military operations against the TPLF, which rules Ethiopia’s northernmost regional state of Tigray.
The federal government operation followed the TPLF attack on the northern command base of the Ethiopian Defense Force, a division stationed in the region for more than two decades and based in the city of Mekelle, the capital of the region of Tigray.
Ahmed also emphasized that the main objective of the second phase of the operation was to “remove the TPLF militia from various areas, decrease their destructive capabilities, liberate the people of Tigray from the clutches of the treacherous clique, and surround the city of Mekelle,” where the TPLF clique hides. “
According to Ahmed, the second phase of the military operation also includes “liberating the areas outside the city of Mekelle that were under the treacherous TPLF clique, recovering looted weapons and camps, seizing strategic weaponry that the TPLF militia looted before they can using it for destructive purposes, rescuing captive members of the national defense force, burying our deceased national heroes, and protecting our vulnerable and endangered citizens in the region from harm.
As part of the military operations, the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) has advanced “victoriously liberating our citizens” in Dansha, Humera, Shire, Shiraro, Axum, Adwa, Adigrat, Alamata, Chercher, Mehoni, Korem and others. places, it was noted.
“In our law enforcement operations, all necessary precautionary measures have been taken to ensure that civilians are not harmed. Great care has been taken to protect historic monuments, places of worship, public facilities, infrastructure, natural resources. and the like “. Ahmed said.
Ahmed also stressed that “although the TPLF clique wants severe damage to occur, our military aircraft have been very careful not to harm civilians, to the extent that missions have been aborted to identify civilians around target areas.” .
“The army has demonstrated its ability to carry out its mission wisely,” Ahmed said.
According to Ahmed, amid ongoing fighting between Ethiopian government forces and TPLF fighters, the TPLF militia “fled destroying many infrastructure, schools and health facilities, roads and bridges that were active in the country. The destruction from the historic Axum airport by extremists have left a lasting scar on our tourism industry, which will take years to recover. “
“As the people of Mekelle now facing the prospect of destruction are our citizens and as the responsibility to rebuild the city rests on our shoulders, we strongly believe that our law enforcement action in Mekelle must be conducted in a manner that results in damage and minimal casualties, “he added.
“I would like to express to everyone that we will take the utmost care and all precautionary measures to protect the people and the city of Mekelle in the successful fulfillment of our rule of law mission until its conclusion,” he added. Final product
