Fano rebel forces in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region are jubilating over what they claim to be a major victory for them as more than 400 Ethiopian government soldiers were reportedly killed in the region.
The alleged killings of the soldiers during the latest fighting between the rebels and the Ethiopian military.
The Fano militia is an ethno-nationalist former protest movement involved in an armed conflict with federal forces across Ethiopia with the experessed aim of eliminating what its leaders see as existential threats against Amharans.
Since April 2023 Fano have been engaging federal forces their group having fought as allies with government troops durng the Tigray war felt excluded from the peace process.
Tens of thousands have been displaced in the conflict in the Amhara region large swathes of which are under rebel control as both sides have been accused of indiscriminate killing and looting.
The rebels’ latest claim has not been independently verified by APA whose sources say fighting took place on Wednesday morning in North Wollo area of the region after Fano rebels, under the umbrella of the Amhara Fano National Force (AFNF) launched an attack targeting five cores of the North East Command of the Defense Force.
The federal government in Addis Ababa has not commented.
The PR section of the Fano force said at least 137 government soldiers were killed and over 280 others captured including a commander with the rank of colonel after the operation ended at a place called Beklo Manekia.
It said hundreds of Kalashnikovs, over 9000 ammunitions, over 1,300 Dsk ammunition, two mortars and two machine guns have been seized.
A newly released video footage trending on social media purportedly shows hundreds of captured government soldiers and seized firearms but it is not clear if it is depicting the rebel operation against federal forces.
Another unit of Fano forces known as “Bale Shirtu” reportedly launched an operation in Worebabo. As many as 78 government forces are killed and 53 others wounded, Fano claimed.
There were few other operations in North Wollo this week. Wondach town of Gidan district in North Wollo fell under the control of Fano forces. Zobel Amba division of Fano forces claimed that it has seized over 22,000 ammunition and over 102 hand grenades.
Over 100 government forces were killed from military operations in the four fronts in the area. 150 others are reportedly wounded.
The Ethiopian Defense Force has not yet commented on the latest claims including ones with video footage showing captured soldiers.
Source:Africa Publicity
