Ethiopian fighter jets attack Somalian towns
{{date|December 24, 2006}}

[[w:Ethiopia|Ethiopian]] Fighter jets have attacked several towns in [[w:Somalia|Somalia]] and for the first time, Ethiopia acknowledged the presence of its troops in Somalia fighting in support of Somalia's [[w:Transitional Federal Government|transitional government]] against the forces of the [[w:Islamic Courts Union|Islamic Courts Union]]. 

"After too much patience, the Ethiopian Government has taken a self-defensive measure and has begun counterattacking the aggressive extremist forces of the [Islamic council] and foreign terrorist groups. Our [[w:military of Ethiopia|defence force]] has been forced to enter a war to defend (against) the attacks from extremists and anti-Ethiopian forces and to protect the sovereignty of the land," said Solomon Abebe, the Foreign Affairs spokesman for Ethiopia.

The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, [[Meles Zenawi]] has also stated that the country has been "forced to enter a war" and went on television to make the announcement that the country was at war with Somalia.

The Islamic movement inside Somalia has stated that the Ethiopian government are "cowards" and that any Ethiopian plane spotted will be shot down.

"They are cowards. They are afraid of the face-to-face war and resorted to air strikes. I hope God will help us shoot down their planes," said a leader with the Islamic Movement, Sheik Mohamoud Ibrahim Suley.

There is no word on how many people may have been injured or killed in the airstrikes.

==Sources==

*{{source|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=0aae3af7-23a3-4f0e-809b-2696e7d903b6&k=71127
|title=Ethiopia openly launches offensive against Somalia's powerful Islamic movement
|author=Mohamed Olad Hassan
|pub=Canada.com
|date=December 24, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/25/stories/2006122503161300.htm
|title=Ethiopia launches air strikes
|author=
|pub=Hindu
|date=December 23, 2006}}

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[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Somalia]]
[[Category:Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Africa]]
[[Category:Meles Zenawi]]

[[de:Kriegserklärung Äthiopiens gegen somalische Islamisten]]
[[fr:L'Éthiopie bombarde des positions islamistes en Somalie]]
[[it:Aerei etiopici bombardano l'aeroporto di Mogadiscio]]
[[he:מטוסי קרב אתיופיים תקפו ערים סומליות]]
[[ja:エチオピア、ソマリアへ侵攻‎]]
Ethiopian Fighter jets have attacked several towns in Somalia and for the first time, Ethiopia acknowledged the presence of its troops in Somalia fighting in support of Somalia's transitional government against the forces of the Islamic Courts Union. 

"After too much patience, the Ethiopian Government has taken a self-defensive measure and has begun counterattacking the aggressive extremist forces of the Islamic council and foreign terrorist groups. Our defence force has been forced to enter a war to defend (against) the attacks from extremists and anti-Ethiopian forces and to protect the sovereignty of the land," said Solomon Abebe, the Foreign Affairs spokesman for Ethiopia.

The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi has also stated that the country has been "forced to enter a war" and went on television to make the announcement that the country was at war with Somalia.

The Islamic movement inside Somalia has stated that the Ethiopian government are "cowards" and that any Ethiopian plane spotted will be shot down.

"They are cowards. They are afraid of the face-to-face war and resorted to air strikes. I hope God will help us shoot down their planes," said a leader with the Islamic Movement, Sheik Mohamoud Ibrahim Suley.

There is no word on how many people may have been injured or killed in the airstrikes.
Politics and conflicts Somalia Ethiopia Africa Meles Zenawi